Benito Ebuen Air Base, Cebu—The Air Force will acquire not only six night-capable attack helicopters but 14, as President Arroyo increased the Air Force’s original budget of P1.2 billion to more than P3.1 billion for the purchase of such air assets.

This was disclosed by the Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog, before the start of the celebrations marking the 61st anniversary of the Air Force here on Wednesday.

Cadungog said the Department of National Defense is working on the procurement so that the first such helicopters would be delivered by next year. Air Force to have its first delivery by next year.

Had the bidding for the helicopters not been nullified early this year by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro owing to alleged anomalies, the Air Force would have received its first delivery of the helicopters later this year.

Teodoro nullified the bidding and had the members of its bids and awards committee (BAC), composed mostly of defense department officials, investigated after a losing bidder alleged that the officials favored one company and even skirted the specified 3,000-pound payload.

Teodoro also formed a new bidding committee.

Cadungog said the new BAC is already working on the acquisition and delivery of the first batch of the helicopters, which he said are badly needed by the Armed Forces in its internal security operations.

The purchase is part of the capability-upgrade program of the Air Force.

Aside from the night-attack choppers, Cadungog said the Air Force would also acquire 20 additional Vietnam War-vintage UH-1H “Huey” helicopters from the United States and Singapore.

Currently, the Air Force has 41 Hueys, 12 MG-520 attack helicopters, 12 OV-10 “Bronco” armed reconnaisance planes, three Nomad light-transport aircraft that are used in patrolling the country’s shorelines and five C-130 transport planes, of which only two are operational.

Cadungog said the Air Force needs more planes, including those that can be used in patrol, search and rescue, and disaster-relief operations, given the problems posed by Typhoon Frank and other calamities and accidents that have struck the country in the past.

He noted that even in sea-related accidents and during the time of calamities, the Air Force is the first unit from the military to arrive and last to leave the scene of incidents.

Cadungog appealed to legislators to pay attention to the military’s need for assets and equipment by allocating funds not just for the Armed Forces’ capability-upgrade program but for its modernization.

“I hope that, slowly, we can educate our decision-makers,” he said.

The Air Force chief said the Armed Forces must modernize in order to be respected by its neighbors.

“Personally, I am not worried about an invader. But as a respected nation, we must have a projection of military power. Kasi kung wala iyan, sino ang rerespeto sa atin?” he said.

Cadungog said the country must protect its airspace and rich resources, noting that the Air Force could not even cover the country’s vast shorelines.

The Air Force is only using a Fokker F-27 plane and OV-10 in patrolling the country’s shorelines and waters, but both could only fly four hours a day.

Cadungog recommended that the government first acquire radar systems and maritime patrol craft under the military’s modernization program.

“The objective is to have a nationwide coast- watch system,” he said.

Cadungog also said the Air Force may not have advance fighter jets until after 2010, as the Air Force alone needs P50 billion for its initial modernization.

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First night-capable attack choppers to be delivered in ’09

Benito Ebuen Air Base, Cebu—The Air Force will acquire not only six night-capable attack helicopters but 14, as President Arroyo increased the Air Force’s original budget of P1.2 billion to more than P3.1 billion for the purchase of such air assets.