May 20,
2008: The Philippines Air Force is
buying another 18 Italian SF-260 trainers, for about $812,000 each. The SF-260
has been around for over 40 years, and nearly 900 have been produced. This is a
1.1 ton, two seat aircraft, with a max speed of 347 kilometers an hour and an
endurance of about six hours. It can be equipped to carry a few hundred pounds
of weapons, and used as a light attack aircraft.
The Philippines
had previously bought 64 SF-260s, and has been using them for decades. Because of
operational losses and wear-and-tear, few
are still in service. The new aircraft will all be in service within 18 months.
