WesWorld

The Philippine Air Force seeks a replacement for its present Lockheed P-38E fighter aircraft and invites tenders from industry to fulfill that role. Approximately fifty aircraft will be required.

Have you any outline specifications?
Are you looking for twin-engine, single-engine, jet, piston, armament choices?

Quoted from "Hood"

Have you any outline specifications?
Are you looking for twin-engine, single-engine, jet, piston, armament choices?

I am not certain what the Philippines would be looking for, which is why I didn't frame a set of requirements.

The P-38s now perform the role of long range interceptor, covering the a large part of the South China Sea from their base at Mindoro. Ideally, their replacement would be a long-range jet aircraft with cannon armament. For circa-1950, that is a difficult niche to fill. At the moment, I've no particular aircraft in mind - so surprise me.

That's a wide spectrum but I can understand why it might be hard to pin down, so here are my surprising choices:

1 - from Argentina, the FMA I-03 AXP-1000. A single-seat jet fighter, not many single-engined jets at present can cover 1,000 miles, you lose twin-engine reliability but the Nene is pretty reliable anyway. Available now.

Quoted

Dimensions: 38/ 41.9/ 14.10/ 360 sq ft
Engine: 1x 5,000lb Rolls-Royce RB.41 Nene III
Max speed: 600mph at sea level
Range: 1,000 miles with maximum external fuel
Sea level rate of climb: 6,000ft/min
Service ceiling: 40,000ft
Weight: all-up weight 14,250lb; overload weight 18,700lb.
Armament: 4x 20mm Orkileon FFB cannon and 2x 500kg bombs or 12x 75mm rockets underwing. Two underwing 100 or 200 gallon drop tanks and one 195 gallon ventral tank can be fitted.

2 - from the Netherlands, the Koolhoven/ SABCA F.K.63, a 2-seat night fighter with Phillips radar, downside is you will to wait until 1952 to get your hands on any.

Quoted

Wingspan: 17.4 m (57 ft 2 in)
Length: 16.5 m (54 ft 2 in)
Height: 4.4 m (14 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 54.9 m² (591 ft²)
Empty weight: 10,500 kg (23,100 lb)
Loaded weight: 15,170 kg (33,450 lb)
Max take-off weight: 16,329 kg (36,000 lb)
Powerplant: 2× EHRW.04 LMF Xhosa III 6,500 lb (28.9 kN) thrust each
Maximum speed: 888 km/h (552 mph)
Range: 3,200 km (2,000 miles)
Service ceiling: 13,700 m (45,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 44.5 m/s (8,750 ft/min)
Armament: 6x 23mm GAST cannon in a ventral pack

3 - also from the Netherlands, the Fokker D.XXIX, single-seat all-weather fighter. Phillips radar set in the nose. Not likely to enter service until 1951.

Quoted

Wingspan: 11.31 m (37 ft 1.5 in)
Length: 12.27 m (40 ft 3 in)
Height: 4.57m (15 ft)
Empty weight: 6,132 kg (13,518 lb)
Gross weight: 9,060kg (19,975 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × EHRW.04 LMF Xhosa 6,000 lb (27 kN) dry, 8,160 lb (36.3 kN) with afterburner
Maximum speed: (1,142 km/h) (710 mph) (Mach 0.91)
Range: 1,850 km (1,153 miles)
Service ceiling: 16,460 m (54,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 61.7 m/s (12,150 ft/min)
Armament: 4x 23mm GAST cannon (130 rpg) or 24x 75mm rockets in ventral tray, two wing hardpoints for 2x 250/500/1000kg 10x 75mm rocket pods/ 2x 750 litre drop tanks

4 - from Great Britain, the Westland Wyvern F.Mk.IV, a single-seat turboprop-powered fighter, available now.

Quoted

Dimensions: 44/ 42.3/ 15/ 355 sq ft
Powerplant: 1x 2,300shp + 1,040lbs (4,030ehp) Rolls-Royce RB.39 Clyde I
Max speed: 400mph at 10,000ft; 445mph at 20,000ft;
Initial rate of climb: 3,800ft/min
Range: 1,100 miles
Service ceiling: 30,000ft
Loaded weight: 16,300lb
Armament: 4x 20mm Orkileon FFB2 cannon and one underfuselage 1,000lb bomb plus 12x underwing 25lb or 60lb RPs

5 - also from Great Britain, the Gloster Meteor NF.Mk.XII, a two-seat nightfighter with AI.Mk.X radar, available in 1950.

Quoted

Dimensions: 43/ 48.6/ 13.11/ 374 sq ft
Powerplant: 2x 3,700lb Rolls-Royce RB.26 Derwent VII
Max speed: 585mph at 10,000ft
Range: 875 miles
Initial rate of climb: 5,800ft/min
Service ceiling: 43,000ft
Max loaded weight 20,444lb
Armament: 4x 20mm Orkileon FFB2 cannon