PLAAF's new toys: Mig29.... Enjoy the news
2 Chinese jets enter RP skies, harass PAF aircraft in Spratlys
The Daily Tribune - Without Fear or Favor
By Mario J. Mallari
05/20/2011
Two Chinese jet fighters were reportedly monitored recently along the vicinities of the Philippine-occupied Kalayaan Group of Islands (KGI) and allegedly harassed two Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft that were conducting reconnaissance patrol on the disputed South China Sea.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said the military is now validating the report that two Chinese MIG-29 were seen flying over the disputed territories on South China Sea.
We are validating reports pertinent to that, said Oban during a forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
There were reports that the Chinese jet fighters last Thursday even buzzed over two Air Force OV-10 bombers conducting routine reconnaissance patrol at the Philippine-occupied Reed Bank near Palawan province.
While he did not confirm or deny the incident, Oban maintained the military does not see such occurrence as bullying on the part of China against the Philippines.
We dont look at it that way on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we just do the mandate thats given to us, we conduct patrol on our territorial waters to make sure there is protection of our maritime resources and to make sure that there is no intrusion and there are no violations of our maritime laws, he stressed.
Oban, however, admitted the AFP has limited capability to monitor maritime activities within the countrys territorial waters, particularly in Palawan area, where the Malampaya oil exploration and the KGIs are located.
As of now, we need to build up
capability in terms of monitoring and detection, that is our priority when it comes to capability development to come up with an effective detection and monitoring system most particularly in the Palawan area where we have vast maritime resources to protect, Oban said.
In the absence of military capability, Oban admitted that the first option with regard to alleged intrusion would be filing diplomatic protest.
In terms of capability, number one, we dont actually have the detection and monitoring capability, we dont have radars to check if indeed they intruded into our airspace. Second, if indeed we have that capability we need interdiction, we still dont have capability to interdict or to intercept. Thats why the first option in our list is
diplomatic protest, Oban said.
The latest incident involving the Chinese came three days before USS Carl Vinson, a United States aircraft carrier, anchored on Manila Bay.
The military leadership stressed that the visit was a routine port call.
Last March, two Chinese patrol vessels harassed a Department of Energy exploration vessel also at the Reed Bank.
The military dispatched two OV-10 bombers to drive away the Chinese ships.
The government subsequently filed diplomatic protest against China, which, in turn, accused the Philippines of invading Chinese territories.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has insisted that Beijing has sovereignty over the Spratlys, an oil-rich chain of tiny islands and reefs are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, more than P5 billion worth of military hardware will be delivered to the AFP this year, most of them intended to enhance the Navys maritime patrol capability, as part of its continuing modernization program.
Oban said 13 projects are scheduled to be delivered for 2011, including aircraft for the Air Force, patrol craft for the Navy and night-fighting system for the Army.
Among the deliverable hardware for the Navy are Jacinto-class patrol vessel upgrade worth P353.65 million, patrol-killer medium (PKM) worth P280 million, radio 20W configuration worth P231 million, and P179 million worth of landing craft utility and military trucks.
For the protection of our maritime resources within our territorial waters, we need navy vessels to attain these objectives, Oban stressed.
Also, the Navy is awaiting the arrival of its first Hamilton cutter acquired from the United States Coast Guard this August.
Oban said the Hamilton cutter will be initially deployed to Palawan area.
The chief of staff said the AFP wants to acquire two more Hamilton cutters. The military is spending more than P450 million for the acquisition, transport and personnel training of the first Hamilton.
We intend to procure two more based on our plans submitted to the President, he said. Oban also aired the need for the acquisition of radar for the much-needed detection system in the Palawan area where poaching by fishermen from neighboring countries is prevalent.
On the other hand, the Air Force is awaiting the delivery of P2.9 billion worth of combat utility helicopters, basic trainer aircraft valued at P622 million, MD 520MG helicopters upgrade at P240 million and aerial camera worth P51 million.
The Army will be receiving P341.5 million worth of night-fighting system including night-vision goggles, and audio-visual system worth P38 million for its civil military operations.
The AFP Medical Center will also receive more than P13 million worth of upgrade on its operating room.
2 Chinese jets enter RP skies, harass PAF aircraft in Spratlys
The Daily Tribune - Without Fear or Favor
By Mario J. Mallari
05/20/2011
Two Chinese jet fighters were reportedly monitored recently along the vicinities of the Philippine-occupied Kalayaan Group of Islands (KGI) and allegedly harassed two Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft that were conducting reconnaissance patrol on the disputed South China Sea.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said the military is now validating the report that two Chinese MIG-29 were seen flying over the disputed territories on South China Sea.
We are validating reports pertinent to that, said Oban during a forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
There were reports that the Chinese jet fighters last Thursday even buzzed over two Air Force OV-10 bombers conducting routine reconnaissance patrol at the Philippine-occupied Reed Bank near Palawan province.
While he did not confirm or deny the incident, Oban maintained the military does not see such occurrence as bullying on the part of China against the Philippines.
We dont look at it that way on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we just do the mandate thats given to us, we conduct patrol on our territorial waters to make sure there is protection of our maritime resources and to make sure that there is no intrusion and there are no violations of our maritime laws, he stressed.
Oban, however, admitted the AFP has limited capability to monitor maritime activities within the countrys territorial waters, particularly in Palawan area, where the Malampaya oil exploration and the KGIs are located.
As of now, we need to build up
capability in terms of monitoring and detection, that is our priority when it comes to capability development to come up with an effective detection and monitoring system most particularly in the Palawan area where we have vast maritime resources to protect, Oban said.
In the absence of military capability, Oban admitted that the first option with regard to alleged intrusion would be filing diplomatic protest.
In terms of capability, number one, we dont actually have the detection and monitoring capability, we dont have radars to check if indeed they intruded into our airspace. Second, if indeed we have that capability we need interdiction, we still dont have capability to interdict or to intercept. Thats why the first option in our list is
diplomatic protest, Oban said.
The latest incident involving the Chinese came three days before USS Carl Vinson, a United States aircraft carrier, anchored on Manila Bay.
The military leadership stressed that the visit was a routine port call.
Last March, two Chinese patrol vessels harassed a Department of Energy exploration vessel also at the Reed Bank.
The military dispatched two OV-10 bombers to drive away the Chinese ships.
The government subsequently filed diplomatic protest against China, which, in turn, accused the Philippines of invading Chinese territories.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has insisted that Beijing has sovereignty over the Spratlys, an oil-rich chain of tiny islands and reefs are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, more than P5 billion worth of military hardware will be delivered to the AFP this year, most of them intended to enhance the Navys maritime patrol capability, as part of its continuing modernization program.
Oban said 13 projects are scheduled to be delivered for 2011, including aircraft for the Air Force, patrol craft for the Navy and night-fighting system for the Army.
Among the deliverable hardware for the Navy are Jacinto-class patrol vessel upgrade worth P353.65 million, patrol-killer medium (PKM) worth P280 million, radio 20W configuration worth P231 million, and P179 million worth of landing craft utility and military trucks.
For the protection of our maritime resources within our territorial waters, we need navy vessels to attain these objectives, Oban stressed.
Also, the Navy is awaiting the arrival of its first Hamilton cutter acquired from the United States Coast Guard this August.
Oban said the Hamilton cutter will be initially deployed to Palawan area.
The chief of staff said the AFP wants to acquire two more Hamilton cutters. The military is spending more than P450 million for the acquisition, transport and personnel training of the first Hamilton.
We intend to procure two more based on our plans submitted to the President, he said. Oban also aired the need for the acquisition of radar for the much-needed detection system in the Palawan area where poaching by fishermen from neighboring countries is prevalent.
On the other hand, the Air Force is awaiting the delivery of P2.9 billion worth of combat utility helicopters, basic trainer aircraft valued at P622 million, MD 520MG helicopters upgrade at P240 million and aerial camera worth P51 million.
The Army will be receiving P341.5 million worth of night-fighting system including night-vision goggles, and audio-visual system worth P38 million for its civil military operations.
The AFP Medical Center will also receive more than P13 million worth of upgrade on its operating room.
