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| Southeast Asia |
| US think-tank: Philippines needs jetfighters, submarines, warships |
| 2012-07-09 |
| The Philippines needs 48 F-16 jet fighters, four to six mini submarines, more armed frigates and corvette-size combat vessels and minesweepers if it is to have a credible military defense capability, the Center for a New American Security said on Friday. The assessment of the center, an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization that develops strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense proposals based in Washington, DC, came amid the standoff between Beijing and Manila over the Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, which is within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone but is being claimed by China as its own. The Philippines' Armed Forces has been struggling to get financing for its modernization program for over two decades, leaving its Air Force without a single jet fighter interceptor since 2005 and the Navy with old warships, some of them of World War II vintage. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #10 Just say the PHIL Mil needs everything. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-07-09 22:04 |
| #9 The Philippines have the same problem the US currently has, to many government crooks ripping of the tax payers. On an individual basis they make excellent fighters, and their military is great at scrounging adapting and carrying on. Possibly it would be best to "hire" a Philippine force rather than just giving them equipment and money that would be looted by the various families and factions that control the place. There are reform efforts going on there but it is an uphill battle and the last thing they need and the US is to get ripped off by the Chinese. |
| Posted by: Vortigern Hupoluse1541 2012-07-09 20:43 |
| #8 ..Give the Filipinos good solid weapons - state of the art or not - and train them well, and they will give a good account of themselves. Ecce: Jesus Villamor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jes%C3%BAs_A._Villamor Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2012-07-09 18:20 |
| #7 Ha! More like someone needs to sell 48 F-16s, plus parts, service, missiles... |
| Posted by: gromky 2012-07-09 18:08 |
| #6 two Filipino aviators = pair of pliars |
| Posted by: Frank G 2012-07-09 13:56 |
| #5 I don't think the F16s are a good idea: yes, those birds still out-class anything the Chinese have. When flown by superb pilots. Which the Filipinos likely don't have, since they haven't had any jet interceptors since 2005. Better to get some advanced trainer jets now and work on growing a cadre of pilots. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2012-07-09 13:40 |
| #4 armed frigates and small fast attack boats make the most sense for them. their problem is stopping China from taking every square inch if ocean off their coast. |
| Posted by: Raider 2012-07-09 10:34 |
| #3 How about let the US lease another base for cheap? Locals will improve their economy and we'll all be safer. |
| Posted by: Large Darling of the Antelope3345 2012-07-09 09:27 |
| #2 Maybe they could become a state and use ours. That would give "O" some more votes. Oh, wait! He's suspending states rights! |
| Posted by: Greash Unoluque3538 2012-07-09 08:52 |
| #1 What, their budget is in too good a shape? |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2012-07-09 08:29 |