Philippines shopping for Indonesian-produced planes

DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez. Photo by FRANCES MANGOSING

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of National Defense is eyeing to acquire Indonesian-produced maritime surveillance aircraft and medium lift cargo planes from Italy as part of modernizing the Philippine Air Force.

DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez, however, did not say to reporters whether the aircraft were in the acquisition shortlist, added they first need the approval of President Benigno Aquino III.

“Various manufacturers are being looked into, those that are appropriate for our purposes…,” Galvez said.

The aircraft is still under study by the DND.

A source has identified the aircraft eyed by DND as Indonesia’s CASA/IPTN CN-325 and Italy’s Alenia C-27J Spartan.

The CASA/IPTN CN-325 can carry two crewmen and 44 passengers, and its roles include maritime patrol, surveillance and air transport.

Meanwhile, the C-27J Spartan, a medium-sized military transport aircraft has a crew of three and is capable of transporting 60 troops.