Retitled: Close Air Support Aircraft Acquisition Project

[Juramentado]

No the problem is closer to home. Some domestic players are making life difficult.

[adroth]

No the problem is closer to home. Some domestic players are making life difficult.

"Close" is an understatement. :-)

[Juramentado]

I just wonder how they managed to finagle a slot if both seats were already occupied.

[Manokski]

Are we now seeing 6 FA50s as the direct replacement for the 6 CAS aircraft?

[Juramentado]

Are we now seeing 6 FA50s as the direct replacement for the 6 CAS aircraft?

Seems that way. But what is the status of the KAI T-50 production line after they fulfill the RTAF order? I don't know of any customers beyond that. I believe the RoKAF order is complete, and since they're able to show that they can punch out FA-50s on more than two a quarter pace, that's not a lot of time to negotiate more.

[Mokong]

Are we now seeing 6 FA50s as the direct replacement for the 6 CAS aircraft?

I dont think so. The AFP may be utilizing its A-G capabilities while awaiting the CAS-A.
IMHO, it is still to expensive as compared to a truboprop that could loiter at much longer times with a sufficient load for local threats.

[Manokski]

Are we now seeing 6 FA50s as the direct replacement for the 6 CAS aircraft?

I dont think so. The AFP may be utilizing its A-G capabilities while awaiting the CAS-A.
IMHO, it is still to expensive as compared to a truboprop that could loiter at much longer times with a sufficient load for local threats.

Preaching to the choir. We know that. But oftentimes politics displaces logic. Or maybe in this case overrides planning. 18 FA50s may be cheaper than 12 FA50s plus 6 close air support aircraft when you factor in the cost of maintaining two different training streams, different maintenance streams, different stores units. Maintaining too many aircraft types will overall be more expensive. Then there is the bird in hand effect. More FA50 might politically be easier to get than a whole new aircraft. Especially if you can fully outfit the jets with all the pods and weapons she can carry.

[LionFlyer]

Consider the fact that the CAS mission is split across multiple platforms now, from the FA50, OV-10 and AW109/MD520s and with the calls to buy more attack helicopters, a prospective, dedicated OV10 replacement that had been aborted numerous would be a target

Simply put, if it is to drop some munitions on ASG, there are options today, without another new platform

[Mokong]

F-35 logic.

Its not optimized for anything.

[LionFlyer]

And it continues...

Pre-bid conference set at 3 May.

http://www.dnd.gov.ph/transparency/procurement/DND_SBAC/2017/SBB/SBB%20NR%2017-04-002.pdf

[israeli]

And it continues...

Pre-bid conference set at 3 May.

http://www.dnd.gov.ph/transparency/procurement/DND_SBAC/2017/SBB/SBB%20NR%2017-04-002.pdf

i guess the rescheduling of the pre-bid conference is due to April 28 being declared a non-working holiday in Metro Manila in time for the ASEAN Summit.

[Juramentado]

Well, the FX decline hasn't helped any of these projects (FAP, CAS, LRPA, etc). The government might want to think of taking the extreme of buying and reserving USD currency in advance to protect project ABCs from currency volatility. Some projects are getting off the rails partly because the effective ABC is less than at bid winning.

[adroth]

Reference Number   4278100

https://philgeps.gov.ph/GEPSNONPILOT/Tender/SplashBidNoticeAbstractUI.aspx?menuIndex=3&refID=4278100&DirectFrom=OpenOpp&Type=agency&BusCatID=0

Procuring Entity   DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE - PROCUREMENT UNIT
  Title   Invitation to Bid for the Close Air Support Aircraft Acquisition Project
  Area of Delivery          Printable Version
Solicitation Number:   Invitation to Bid Close Air Support Aircraft Acqui
Trade Agreement:   Implementing Rules and Regulations
Procurement Mode:   Public Bidding
Classification:   Goods
Category:   Aviation Products
Approved Budget for the Contract:   PHP 4,968,000,000.00
Delivery Period:   0 Day/s

Last Updated / Time   21-Apr-2017 5:19 PM
Closing Date / Time   24-May-2017 10:00 AM

Description

The Department of National Defense / Armed Forces of the Philippines (DND/AFP), through the AFP Modernization Act Trust Fund (RA 10349 "Revised AFP Modernization Program" dated 11 December 2012) intends to apply the sum of FOUR BILLION NINE HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT MILLION PHILIPPINE PESOS (4,968,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Close Air Support Aircraft Acquisition Project. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The DND/AFP now invites bids for the Acquisition of six (6) Close Air Support Aircraft with the corresponding Initial Logistics Support (ILS) package. These aircraft shall be capable of performing Close Air Support air operations during day and night. The guiding principles for this project shall be based on affordability and sustainability while conforming to the requirements of the Philippine Air Force in furtherance of accomplishing its mission.

[Ayoshi]

Philippine CAS aircraft bid edges forward | Shephard Media - 13th June 2017

A pre-bid conference held last month witnessed three vendors attending: Embraer proffering the EMB 314 Super Tucano, Beechcraft with its AT-6B Texan II Wolverine and Aero Vodochody pushing its L-39NG.

Others such as the TAI’s Hürkųs from Turkey and the KAI KA-1 from South Korea had expressed interest but decided not to enter a bid. Air Tractor, which was promoting its AT-802U at ADAS 2016, also appears to have decided not to enter.

Aero Vodochody was planning to offer six new L-39NG aircraft and two refurbished L-39 Albatross trainers upgraded to the same standard. However, the Czech company submitted no bid, therefore leaving Embraer and Beechcraft to slug it out.

However, the Philippines declared that Beechcraft’s eligibility and technical component of the bid did not met requirements, and so it was disqualified. This left Embraer as the single lowest calculated compliant bidder.

[adroth]

PAF to get 6 more aircraft
Posted on Thursday Jul 27th at 8:00pm

http://m.philstar.com/314191/show/6fd2af743190cd58d2bbd237fc4a2552/

MANILA, Philippines - Six Brazilian-made close-air support aircraft with night flying capabilities will be the latest additions to the Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s air muscle.

The acquisition of the six new A-29 Super Tucano aircraft is part of the PAF’s ongoing modernization, which also involves the purchase of more FA50 lead-in trainer fighter jets from South Korea.

After several delays, post qualification inspections of the aircraft are now being done in Brazil. Embraer Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. bagged the P4.9-billion defense contract. The delivery of the aircraft is still being finalized.

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