Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE

THE US AIR FORCE has offered the Philippine air force a range of different packages based around the Lockheed Martin F-16, to meet its requirement for a replacement multi-role fighter aircraft.

Philippine defence sources say that the air force is considering three separate F-16 offers. The proposals consist of new-build F-16C/Ds, a combination of new and upgraded ex-USAF F-16A/Bs or embargoed Pakistan Block 15-standard fighters now in desert storage in the USA.

Given the Philippines' limited financial resources, the lower-cost option of surplus F-16A/Bs is viewed as the more attractive proposition. The deal would include a mid-life upgrade to bring the aircraft up to similar configuration to that of the F-16A/Bs now being produced for Taiwan.

McDonnell Douglas (MDC), at the same time, is promoting new F-18C/D fighters to the Philippines, in an effort to capitalise on its recent Asian sales successes in Malaysia and Thailand. The aircraft's comparatively high acquisition cost however, makes it an outside contender.

Non-US competitors include Dassault, with its Mirage F-1, Israel Aircraft Industries, offering its Kfir 2000, and MiG-MAPO, with its MiG-29.

The air force wants to purchase up to 18 fighters to replace its dwindling numbers of ageing Northrop Grumman F-5A/Bs. Its planned purchase is still subject to the country's 15-year 170 billion pesos ($6.48 billion) defence-modernisation budget which is being granted final approval by the Philippine Senate (Flight International, 14-20 August).

Because of long-running delays in getting the modernisation budget passed, the air force is now looking at the possibility of acquiring additional older aircraft as an interim measure. Funds for the purchase would either come from the defence ministry's annual operating budget or by means of counter trade.

Several different aircraft are being offered to fill the gap, including surplus upgraded Canadian air force CF-5A/Bs, Vought A-7s and MDC A-4s. The Philippines had previously bid unsuccessfully to buy Kuwait's redundant A-4s.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is offering the air force use of some its leased Fokker 50 turboprops as stopgap transport aircraft. The airline wants to replace the aircraft with a new regional jet, but cannot start returning the aircraft to Fokker's AFT leasing company until 2000.

Source: Flight International