Story ID: 
Philippines Likely To Buy Super Tucanos
By: Chen Chuanren
Caption: An escalating Muslim insurgency in the country’s southern island has lent urgency to a close air support requirement.
Word Count: 263
The Embraer Super Tucano is the sole compliant bidder for a Philippines Air Force (PAF) requirement for a new close air support (CAS) aircraft. The PAF has prioritized CAS and air-to-ground munitions procurement as a result of the takeover by Muslim extremist insurgents of the city of Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao. An Embraer spokesperson said the company is committed to fulfilling the requirement.

The PAF is seeking six aircraft for CAS to complement, and eventually replace its aging fleet of OV-10 Bronco twin turboprops. The Broncos have recently flown missions over Marawi, dropping 500-pound Mk 82 bombs against the insurgents. The PAF has also deployed its Leonardo AW109 helicopters and KAI FA-50 Golden Eagle fighters to help ground forces retake the city. The last of 12 FA-50s was delivered to Clark airbase on May 31.

Despite its deteriorating political relationship with the Philippines, the U.S. has been supporting the action. It has been supplying ISR from U.S. Navy P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, and U.S. special forces have been operating the AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma UAS over the city, presumably to collect imagery.  

The PAF will be conducting post-bid qualification inspections, before submitting a recommendation for the Embraer aircraft. Other potential candidates for the requirement were the Aero Vodochody L-39NG and the Textron Beechcraft AT-6.

The Philippines defense ministry has expressed interest in acquiring Russian-made precision guided munitions, following a state visit by the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte to Russia in May.

Additional reporting by Chris Pocock.