24 military modernization projects to be delivered before end of P-Noy term

Source: Medya Ng Bayan

F/A-50 Golden Eagle

MANILA, July 3 (PNA) — Defense Undersecretary for finance, munitions, installation and materiel Fernando Manalo Wednesday expressed confidence 24 military modernization projects will be completed before 2016 or the end of President Benigno S. Aquino’s six-year term.

He also said the Aquino government has been very decisive in this matter.

Manalo said these projects, now in various stages of implementation, include rocket launchers, hand-held radios, force-protection equipment, night-fighting system and 55,000 units of Remington automatic rifles for the Army, flight simulators, long range patrol aircraft, close-support aircraft, combat utility helicopters (Bell 412 model), radar surveillance system, the F/A-50 “Golden Eagle” jet aircraft for the Air Force, two frigates, multi-purpose assault craft, amphibious assault vehicles, naval helicopters for the Navy.

Besides equipment, modernization and upgrade works are in the offing for various Navy and Air Force bases.

These include access roads, hangars, runways for the Air Force and berthing space for the Navy.

Manalo added a naval station, Naval Base Rafael Ramos, which is located in Cebu, will be greatly improved.

Also in the pipeline are armored personnel carriers coming from the United States.

And should all this items, especially the F/A-50 and the radar systems be delivered, Manalo said the Philippines will have its minimum credible defense capability.

“This will make any one thinking of waging war against us think twice,” he added.

Manalo also clarified that this upgrade is not aimed at any country especially against China whom the Philippines is now engaged in a series of maritime territory spats involving Panatag (Scarborough) and Ayungin Shoals.

“This (upgrades) are only to build up our minimum credible deterrence capability which was already in the planning stage since 1995. We are not going to war with China or any other nation,” he stressed. (Media ng Bayan)
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