韩国将向菲律宾出口Ｔ－５０金鹰对地攻击机

Korea Offers Soft Loans for TA-50



VISITOR FROM SEOUL President Aquino (right) listens as South Korean President Lee Myung-bak speaks during Monday’s joint news conference in Malacañang. Lee is in Manila for a three-day state visit. JOAN BONDOC

Manila - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak offered the Philippines to consider the South Korean made TA-50 for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) through loan-financing agreement with the Korean government.

The Philippines has been asking the Korean government if they can provide soft loans for jet aircraft procurement as the country doesn't have enough cash to acquire multi-role trainer jets for the PAF.

On Monday, President Benigno Aquino III meet with visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak for the country’s military needs.

Mr. Aquino said he and Lee discussed how Korea could help them in upgrading the AFP arsenal.

“I expressed to President Lee the interest of the Philippines to gain some specific defense articles such as military-grade helicopters, boats and aircraft,” Mr. Aquino said in a joint news conference.

“This is in consonance with the upgrading and modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” the President added.

Lee did not disclose what specific request were made, but the South Korean government representative at the meeting confirmed that TA-50 was indeed offered for Aquino's consideration, with the Korean government shouldering the cost of procurement for the jets of the Philippine Air Force. Procurement of fast Patrol craft for the navy was also in the lists as Korea wanted to cooperate with the Philippines to resolve its maritime problems.

During the visit, South Korea signed an agreement to provide soft loans of up to $500 million to the Philippines. No details were immediately available as to where the loans go.

The concessional loans would come from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund and disbursed through the Export-Import Bank of Korea from this year until 2013, the two countries said.

Some of the funds have been identified to go for the completion of Laguindingan International Airport, construction of Hanjin Power Plant in Subic, and priority irrigation projects to improve rice harvest efficiency. Four rice processing centers will be build in various parts of the country with a project cost P785 million funded by a grant from the Korea International Cooperation Agency.


The TA-50 is a joint venture program of Korea Aerospace Industrie (KAI) and Lockheed Martin of the United States, with a price tag of USD $25 million a piece.

The Philippine Air Force has been shopping for six brand new trainer jet fighters and shortlisted the lists to either Korea’s TA-50 Golden Eagle or Italy’s M-346.

The deal is expected to save the government some $150 million dollars from the purchase of the jets which can be use to fund the capability upgrade of the AFP.