I don't think we need to pay much credence to this rumouor - even assuming some member of the Filipino armed forces or government expressed an interest (which is always possible), it won't get very far. Whatever one thinks of the GoP, they are not utterly delusional when it comes to military budget, that's why they are only going for F/A-50, and actually rejected proposal for several refurbished fighter projects (CF-18, F-16C/Ds, etc) due to maintenance cost.
Philippines Vs Taiwan... Troubled Waters
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I don't think we need to pay much credence to this rumouor - even assuming some member of the Filipino armed forces or government expressed an interest (which is always possible), it won't get very far. Whatever one thinks of the GoP, they are not utterly delusional when it comes to military budget, that's why they are only going for F/A-50, and actually rejected proposal for several refurbished fighter projects (CF-18, F-16C/Ds, etc) due to maintenance cost.
joshuatree
Captain
Shopping around is easy but there are two things going on here. Obviously, the Philippines has been in the market for hardware. However, this auction/sale of Principe de Asturias is also a reflection of Spain trying to whittle down her debt and budget costs. For Spain, being able to get a few dollars and not having to spend any in dismantling this vessel is the main goal. This may mean potentially a cheap price for the buyer whether it is the Philippines or not. But keep in mind, the ship is already 30+ years old and will need money for refurbishment. Furthermore, it's a carrier that's better suited for helos unless one puts in more money to acquire Harriers which aren't in production anymore either. F-35? Possibly but one can see the price tag is skyrocketing. Just look at Chakri Naruebet, not much use. In Southeast Asia, I actually would say Indonesia would be the best positioned to acquire a small carrier but even they passed over it.
Technically speaking, can a J-15 take off and land on this?
MwRYum
Major
I know, if all these years they couldn't shore up their air force with proper fast movers, or maintain a proper navy and effective Coast Guard, where on Earth they got that much money to buy, less to operate, a mini aircraft carrier?
So, all you need to say is "show me the money" to that chap, and he'd be deflated faster than a balloon got popped with a sharp needle.
Philippines doing this all by itself=0% chance.
this Spanish carrier project can bankrupt them.
but if the United States wants to help them then anything is possible. so it really depends on the US. the US can easily fully refurbish this thing and pack in the latest equipment. the Philippines don't have any personal qualified to run this ship but that can be solved by a full fledged training program by the USN. if backed by a full financial & technical aid program this can happen.
There are reports of this in Chinese media, by the way.
I will admit the likelihood of this happening is very low. But the impact to the rule of engagement of a carrier is interesting.
US Philippine defense treaty only applies to territories ceded to Philippine by US -- so the US will not intervene on South China Sea disputes. However, if Philippine attacks/counter-attack using land based aircraft or shore based missiles, those may be subject to attack without invoking the treaty. So if Philippine wants to use air power without their mainlands subject to attack, then the carrier is the only option. Plus carrier is one a a few ways Philippine can do damage without being blow out of water immediately afterward.
If Philippine is able to pay for it and able to make it work, then it may be worth the money.-- it can at least make Taiwanese pause. However, those are two big ifs.
The point I am trying to refute is that this is Filipino propaganda, which it most definitely isn't.
And no, it won't. Anywhere the Principe could possibly reach and which the Taiwanese could possibly have any interest in (Luzon Strait, Pratas Island, Spratleys), the Filipinos can already reach with land based air-power with ease. Well, if they have any land-based air-power. Which they don't. And that's crux of the matter - Filipino military modernisation, if it ever happens will be a multi-decade process.
Indeed, wasting time on an old Spanish ship is actually good for Taiwan - that means they have less money to put in the coast guard and the air force, two things which may actually have an impact in any future disputes, in favour of an undefended carrier which adds nothing to the table as far as Taiwan is concerned... except as trophy for Taiwanese captains, whose navy possesses 26 major surface combatants and dozens of FACs to the PN's... none.
plawolf
Lieutenant General
Talk of a Philippines carrier is pure nonsense. With no escorts, the Philippines crew might as well scuttle her themselves if they are ordered into combat, because if war breaks out, that carrier is as good as dead unless the Philippines hide it away in some port far from the actual fighting.
The Philippines needs to assemble a credible escort fleet before it can even start dreaming about a carrier, and that is so far off its not even funny.
Even assuming they somehow manage to get a decent escort fleet together, a carrier is still useless without constraint training of the crews and good maintenance. Just look across the South China Sea at Thailand to see what a waste and drain it is to have a carrier but not the funds to keep the crews trained and planes flying.
Getting the old Spainsh carrier is pretty much the worst and last thing the Philippines could and should do, because doing so will only mean the Philippines ties up the vast majority of its already limited defence budge in a giant sitting duck that could be easily killed by anyone who has any beef with the Philippines in the event of war.
Its such a ridiculously boneheaded suggesting it almost sounds like propaganda against the Philippines as I struggle to believe even their government could be so utterly clueless and incompetent as to give this made scheme any serious consideration.
The Philippines needs to assemble a credible escort fleet before it can even start dreaming about a carrier, and that is so far off its not even funny.
Even assuming they somehow manage to get a decent escort fleet together, a carrier is still useless without constraint training of the crews and good maintenance. Just look across the South China Sea at Thailand to see what a waste and drain it is to have a carrier but not the funds to keep the crews trained and planes flying.
Getting the old Spainsh carrier is pretty much the worst and last thing the Philippines could and should do, because doing so will only mean the Philippines ties up the vast majority of its already limited defence budge in a giant sitting duck that could be easily killed by anyone who has any beef with the Philippines in the event of war.
Its such a ridiculously boneheaded suggesting it almost sounds like propaganda against the Philippines as I struggle to believe even their government could be so utterly clueless and incompetent as to give this made scheme any serious consideration.
MwRYum
Major
Well we ain't that "military illiterate" so we'd at most laugh about it, but the same thing can't be said of the general public, who'd gobble up anything without putting it through the thought-processing part of their brain, if they really have any.
That said, does the rumor's fabricator do this for laughs, or other purposes?
Exactly. That's why I suspect there is a grain of truth in this. Through out this whole incident, Philippine cares more about domestic politics than reality. Getting a white elephant like a carrier will be enormously popular to the electorate (not to mention the pockets of those involved).
Chances are if they actually bought it, it's highly likely that it's destined to become another museum ship in active service.
Personally I think modernizing its air force so that it has up to date fighters (or fighters at all) should be Philippine's priority.