The Philippine air force has issued its first request for proposals (RFP) for 24 new multi-role fighter aircraft and six air-defence radars to manufacturers , initiating a 15-year, 164.5 billion peso ($6.23 billion) defence-modernisation programme.
The RFP has been sent to six competing European, Israeli, Russian and US fighter manufacturers for the supply of 18 single-seat and six tandem-seat fighters. Companies have been given until 30 May to submit proposals for the contract, including pricing on a complete range of weaponry, five years of spares, training and five-, ten- and 15-year optional financing packages.
The pre-selected list of contenders consists of the Dassault Mirage 2000-5, Israel Aircraft Industries' upgraded Kfir 2000, Lockheed Martin F-16C/D, McDonnell Douglas F-18C/D, Mikoyan-MAPO MiG-29 and the Saab JAS39 Gripen. Other types which had been considered, but are now out of the running, included secondhand F-16A/Bs and Mirage F-1CTs. A five-man Philippine evaluation team is to be dispatched to Europe and Israel in the second half of this month to test fly the Gripen, Mirage 2000-5 and upgraded Kfir 2000.
The other three fighters have already been flown. The Philippine air force plans to make a Ìnal decision towards the end of the year and award a contract in the first quarter of 1998.
The air force's recently approved requirement stipulates a multi-role fighter, capable of performing maritime and surface strike missions day and night, with a minimum sea level range of 600km (325nm). In addition, the aircraft should be capable of intercepting intruders at speeds up to Mach 1.6 and have a ceiling of 50,000ft (15,250m).
The requirement for an accompanying package of weaponry includes an all-aspect infra-red (IR) dogfight missile, a fully or semi-active beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile, a 75-100km-range sea-skimming anti-ship missile (ASM), a 15-25km stand-off weapon (STOW) and laser or optically-guided bombs.
The air force has asked for compatibility with a range of specified weapons, including Rafael Python 4 and Raytheon AIM-9 IR missiles, Hughes AIM-120 AMRAAM and Matra Mica BVR missiles, the British Aerospace Sea Eagle, Hughes AGM-65F Maverick, McDonnell Douglas AGM-84 Harpoon and Saab RBS-15F ASMs, Aerospatiale AS30Ls and GEC-Marconi's precision-guided family of weapons.
Other items specified include navigation and targeting pods (with the Rafael Litening the specified system), NATO Mod 4 or equivalent identification-friend-or foe systems and chaff dispensers. Options include a helmet-mounted sight, electronic-warfare system, an aerial-refuelling capability and air-combat manoeuvring instrumentation.
Five radar suppliers have, in the meantime, also been given until the end of May to respond to the RFPs for both fixed and transportable surveillance systems.
Competing manufacturers are Alenia, GEC-Marconi, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Thomson-CSF (Flight International, 9-15 April).
Source: Flight International
