The Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) is planning to invite proposals from the companies for the Full Motion Flight Simulator Acquisition Project, next month.
Covering acquisition of three modern flight simulators, the PHP246.4m ($5.4m) project aims to help the Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots efficiently operate the T-50 fighter jets the country is purchasing from South Korea, philstar.comreports.
Full Motion Flight Simulator Acquisition Project Bids and Award Committee chair Defense Undersecretary Efren Fernandez said the simulators will provide pilots with full sensory experience that can help improve flight instruction, boost proficiency, minimise risks associated with emergency procedures training, lower accidents and also save on aircraft operational and maintenance costs.
Fernandez said, ”The DND and the AFP reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to the contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders."
”Delivery of the goods is required within a period of 600 calendar days from the opening of the Letter of Credit (LC).”
The DND will hold a pre-bid conference later this month at DND BAC Conference Room at the Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, in Quezon City, prior to the actual opening of the bids on 10 February 2014.
The PAF is acquiring 12 FA-50 fighters, a light attack variant of Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer to counter airborne threats and train pilots on supersonic high-performance weapons platforms.
Equipped with upgraded EL/M-2032 pulse-Doppler radar, advanced avionics, longer radome, greater internal fuel capacity and a tactical datalink, the multirole fighter is also expected to be used for reconnaissance and surveying, interdiction and disaster response missions.
Image: The FA-50 is a multirole fighter version of the T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft.. Photo: courtesy of Kentaro Iemoto.