MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) reported yesterday that the delivery of AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles would start within the year and would be fitted onto the Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s new supersonic jets FA50 Fighting Eagles. The air-to-air missiles were procured from Diehl Raytheon of Germany for P1,016,734,088 as the PAF transitions from rockets and bombs to missile fighting capabilities. “The (Sidewinder missiles) would be delivered within the year,” DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said. PAF is already flying one squadron of FA50 Fighting Eagles that would soon be armed with air-to-air AIM-9 Sidewinders in addition to the 20 mm automatic cannons. Israeli fighter jets are also armed with AIM-9 Sidewinders and downed dozens of Syria’s Soviet-built MIG jets during hostilities over Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 1982.

Source: Philippine Star June 12, 2019 16:04 UTC