[Philippines] State Visit to Argentina

[Apingdaldal]

continuation of https://modernnations.com/threads/argentina-message-to-the-philippines.3132/#post-10905


The Presidential Jet of the 250th Presidential Air Lift Wing, an Airbus A330-300, with callsign "Kalayaan One" departs from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Metro Manila for Ministro Pastirini - Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires. Aboard Kalayaan One would be:

- Rodrigo R. Duterte (President)
- Cielito Avanceña-Duterte (First Lady)
- Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista (Commanding General of the Philippine Army)
- Admiral Robert Empredad (Flag Officer in-Command of the Philippine Navy)
- Lt. Gen. Galileo Kintanar (Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force)
- Maj. Gen. William Hotchkiss IV (Commander, Air Defense Command - Philippine Air Force)
- Arthur Tugade (Secretary, Dept. of Transportation)
- Twenty (20) Presidential Security Group (PSG) operatives

12x PSG personnel shall each carry a UDMC PVAR rifle with Trijicon ACOG , 1x TCM TAC Ultra FS HC pistol, kevlar vests with MOLLE pouches, PASGT helmets, 4x extra MAGPUL rifle magazines, 2x extra TCM TAC Ultra FS HC clips, 2x high fragmentation grenades, 2x flashbangs, 1x smoke grenade (white phosphorus), a "Bolo" knife, a tactical flashlight, first-aid kit, and a small, pocket-sized box of "Bukayo" (square block sweets made of dehydrated shredded coconut and brown sugar).

The other 8x PSG personnel shall each carry a TCM TAC Ultra FS HC pistol with 2x extra clips, a "Balisong" butterfly knife, and shall be wearing "Barong Tagalogs" (traditional Filipino dress) and bulletproof vest (as undergarment).

All twenty (20) PSG personnel shall be carrying UHF digital radios with level 3 encryption and plugged with PTT throat microphones with earplugs headset.

Prior to the departure of Kalayaan One, the Argentine government was privately and secretly informed of President Duterte's entourage as well as their ETA to Buenos Aires and declared all the equipment and weapons they are carrying with them.

Before Kalayaan One will enter Argentine airspace, Kalayaan One pilots would contact the ATC of Ministro Pastirini - Ezeiza International Airport and ask permission to land.

@Naio90

 

[Naio90]

The Ministro Pistarini International Airport ATC would establish radio contact with the filipino aircraft and give them the corresponding authorization and guidance to land them safely. Once on the ground, they would be led to the designated parking space on the side of the airport, where the greeting party was awaiting.

The motorcade was ready waiting on the other end of the red carpet, together with an honor guard on one side and a few journalistson one corner, watched over by arirport security forces.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Daniel Osvaldo would be waiting there.

 

[Apingdaldal]

The Presidential Jet of the 250th Presidential Air Lift Wing, an Airbus A330-300, with callsign "Kalayaan One" arrives at Ministro Pistarini International Airport on Expected Time of Arrival (ETA). Once Kalayaan One completes taxiing, the Philippine delegation would all disembark from the Presidential Jet and greet MFA Daniel Osvaldo and the Argentine welcoming committee. President Duterte would walk side by side with MFA Osvaldo along the file of Argentine honor guards and will salute at the adjutant of the honor guards once pass-in review is done. The Philippine delegation, together with 8x PSG guards (with concealed sidearms and wearing traditional Barong Tagalogs) will then proceed to the vehicles allotted for them then will proceed to meet the President Ignacio Herrero.

The other 12x PSG guards (who are fully armed) will stay at the airport and will be guarding the Presidential Jet. Eight (8) of them will always be on detail while four (4) will be resting in the airport's ATC. Batch of four (4) PSG's will be shifting details every four (4) hours.

 

[Naio90]

The motorcade would depart and leave the airport with all passengers on board. After about 45 minutes, the motorcade would arrive at the Casa Rosada and enter through the main entrance. On the central foyer, just before a big white marble staircase, President Herrero would be waiting. Few steps to the right where the Chief of Protocol and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

As soon as the filipino President enters the buuilding, walking on the red carpet, the granaderos (honor guard) would ready and raise their ceremonial rifles. President Herrero would firmly shake his counterparts hand and welcome him kindly to the Argentine Republic. Minsiter Osvaldo would then follow and the three of them would use the stairs to go to the presidential office.

4 filipino security guards would be allowed to accompany the group some 15 meters behind, escorted by argentine presidential security. The whole security escort would then wait outside the office, which would close its door. No media would be allowed inside.

The rest of the filipino delegation would be taken to their respective meetings.

 

[Apingdaldal]

"At last we meet, President Herrero." President Duterte said to the Argentine President while firmly shaking his hands. "I personally see how you built this progressive and vibrant country you have today. Kudos to you and your government. Indeed it's something other countries should emulate onto." President Duterte added.

As they went to their meeting room to officially start their meeting, they would all take there seats, with the Filipino delegation facing the Argentine host on the other side of the meeting table. President Duterte would make his opening statements:

"To His Excellency President Ignacio Herrero, to the Honorable Foreign Affairs Minister Daniel Osvaldo, and to all distinguished guest, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. It's an honor to be here in this momentous occasion. Argentina is a longtime friend and partner of the Federal Republic of the Philippines. Despite our geographical distance, we have worked on several significant endeavors which has bridged our continents. Hence, we are here to further strengthen our bridges."

The purpose of our visit are mainly, but not limited to, two (2) things: Military and Transportation.

As you may have noticed, I have brought with me our top commanders of each of our AFP branch of services. Our military-related agenda for this visit would include military partnership, particularly in assisting the Philippines in it's self-reliance initiatives such as in military research and development. And also we would also discuss about a potential strategic alliance between Philippines and Argentina. My Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana could have started this but I have decided to personally handle this since not only that I am the Commander-in-Chief but this would curtail some political talks.

I have brought with me as our Department of Transportation, Sec. Arthur Tugade, to discuss about mass transportation systems. Perhaps at the end of the day, a thorough evaluation of Argentina's mass transport system can be done and perhaps applied in the Philippines."


President Duterte would thank his audience and sits. The other Filipino delegations, the military top brass, would also bring out documents and open their laptops in preparation for the meeting.


@Naio90

 

[Naio90]

After the ceremonial greetings, and once in the meeting room, President Herrero would speak:

"Thank you for your kind words Mr. President Duterte. Indeed we have been looking forward to this meeting for a long time now, Argentine and the Philippines share much in common, and proof of this is the long list of agreements and talks we had in the recent past. So, this high level meeting was only logical to happen rather sooner than later.

Argentina has now long been following a strong South-South foreign policy, cooperating and establishing firm links with likeminded nations. Today, the Philippines are one fo the prime examples of the positive results of this policy, and together with Brazil and Nigeria, are one of our main associates abroad. Wasnt it because of the geographic distance between us, i'm sure we would be far more integrated at this moment. But luckily, globalization and modern techonology allow us to bypass this setback and still progress towards integration.

I have here with me my Foreign Minister, Daniel Osvaldo, which you already met, the CEO of ArgenDef, Gonzalo Castellani and the Minister of Defense of Argentina, Juan Manuel Cauteruccio. Given what you mentioned I'm also summoning to this meeting our Secretary of Transportation. We can surely arrange a tour of the main infrastructure projects vis-a-vis transportation we conducted in the last years around the argentine territory.

I have mentioned this meeting to a friend of mine, President Victor Romero from Brazil, which is very interested in perhaps joining us after we dealt with our bilateral affairs."

 

[Apingdaldal]

President Duterte would speak:

"Yes it's a shame that Argentina is also in the other side of the South America continent, otherwise we could have easily linked my country and yours with a dedicated submarine fiber-optic cable through the Pacific Ocean. But luckily, the Internet and the Cloud is always good enough for our country to keep in touch with each other.

We would be glad to have us toured to your transportation and infrastructure projects. We can do that once we finish our military-related talks.

President Romero is also welcome to join us later on as well."

President Duterte would finish his statement with a slight nod and smile to the Argentinian hosts. He will then turn to Maj. Gen. William Hotchkiss IV, the to start their military talks.

"Thank you President Duterte. Good afternoon President Herrero, Minister Cauteruccio, Minister Osvaldo, and Mr. Osvaldo. I am MGen William Hotchkiss IV, Commander of Philippine Air Force's Air Defense Command. The Air Defense Command has a requirement for air superiority fighters. While we are considering purchasing commercially-available combat aircrafts, we are also considering developing our indigenous fighters. We looked into the ArgenDef portfolio and we can see there are at least 2x products which can use: the INVAP TF-09 turbofan engine and the INVAP AR1 ELINT.

We would like to know a bit more on these 2x products - both technically and commercially."

@Naio90

 

[Naio90]

The CEO of ArgenDef, Gonzalo Castellani would bend forward and reply to the Major General from the Philippines:

"Major General, pleasure to meet you. Indeed the TF-09 and the AR1 are two components designed and produced by our R&D Department and both officially available for commercialization through our online catalogue.

I have downloaded the files we have on them for you to review:

AR1 ELINT

TF-09

May I add that we have currently in storage 10 Embraer 190 that we could offer to you, if it is of interest to you."

 

[Apingdaldal]

The two (2) Philippine Air Force representatives, MGen. Hotchkiss IV and his superior, Air Force commander Lt Gen Kintanar, scans through the documents provided by ArgenDef. MGen Hotchiss IV scrutinizes the TF-09 engine and the AR1 ELINT documents, while Lt.Gen Kintanar continuous to browse onto ArgenDef's CITEFA and INVAP product portfolio. Meanwhile, Admiral Robert Empredad (Flag Officer in-Command of the Philippine Navy) and Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista (Commanding General of the Philippine Army) are also doing their respective reviews and preparation for their technical queries. silent but attentive, President Duterte and First Lady Avencana cheerfully and amusingly observe their military top brass on their serious work.


Ten minutes lates, MGen Hotchkiss IV of the Air Force's Air Defense Command threw some questions to the ArgenDef CEO:

MGen Hotchkiss IV: "Regarding the TF-09 Engine, Mr. Castellani. I must admit that the thrust of this engine is quite impressive. Though I have several clarifications. What is the bypass ratio of this engine? If you have not exact detail of the bypass ration, at least can you confirm if this engine is a low-bypass, or a zero-bypass, or a high-bypass? Second question on the TF-09 is: what speed can it attain during supercruise? Third question is: can you confirm that this TF-09 does not have any thrust vectoring mechanism or methods. If yes, can you share us your thoughts on why you decide to forgo on the thrust vectoring feature?

For the INVAP AR1 ELINT, I have some clarifications as well. ELINT is somehow a general term for "gathering, processing, and interpretation of electronic signal/information" which is under the broader realms of electronic warfare systems. Hence, what comprises the AR1 ELINT system i.e. is it actually a Electronic Support Measure System (ESM) i.e. "high-probability of intercept" direction finding, "high-probability of intercept" emitter finding, and emitter identification. Does the AR1 ELINT also includes Electronic Countermeasure system (ECCM) i.e. radar, laser, and missile warning receivers? Finally, does the AR1 ELINT includes IFF?"


Lt.Gen Kintanar also asked some commercial queries to ArgenDef CEO Castellani after MGEN Hotchiss IV finished his technical queries:

LtGen Kintanar: Regarding the prices we are seeing under the INVAP and CITEFA indigenous product portfolio, these are the price for the DPR, am I correct?

Dept. of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade would also make his statement:

Sec. Tugade: I will inform our three (3) national carriers: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Air Asia Zest, if they would be interested on those Embraer 190's."

 

[Apingdaldal]

bumping @Naio90

 

[Naio90]

"Let me get you some more details regarding the engine. I will inform some Of the engineers back at ArgenDef in order for them to prepare a tailormade report for you to review. Same goes for the ELINT platforms you are inquiring about." The ArgenDef representative would reply.

"And that is correct, the price you are visualizing in the catalogue is cost to acquire the DPR package."

"Does any Of your national airlines showed interest in the offered Embraer aircraft we are offering?"

 

[Apingdaldal]

LtGen Kintanar would reply on behalf of MGen Hotchkiss : “That’s good to hear. We will await for ArgenDef’s response to our technical clarification. As for the DPR prices of your CITEFA and INVAP defense products; I find them reasonably priced. I can assure you that we will be purchase several of those. I am just awaiting for the confirmation back from our Philippine Air Force technical working group (TWG) and project management team (PMT) and I myself will personally place an order immediately.”

DoTr Sec. Tugade would also reply: “At the moment, there is no immediate need for additional aircrafts from our three (3) national carriers. However, my Department of Transportation itself do have a rrequirement for modern locomotives for our future rail transport upgrades. We also want to model our planne$ national railway projects to your revived and revitalized FerroCarriles Argentinos; and perhaps replicate the same success.”

 

[Naio90]

"Well, regarding the railway infrastructure and motorcars, I suggest your specialists mantain direct contact with FerroCarriles Argentinos management. In the recent past, through state support, this company has conducted several projects abroad, icnluding modernization, expansion and reparation of entire rail networks in multiple nations. At the same time, several R&D projects have resulted in the ability to produce modern and efficient trains and locomotives, including a new completely indigenous built High Speed Train, which we are currently able to effort for export, together with the know how to operate it as well as the possibility to dispatch an experts team to survey the local infrastruture and complete an analysis on whats would need to be done to put it into servie, in this case in the Philippines.

Here are the specifics:

TAVA HST"

 

[Naio90]

@Apingdaldal