Over the next two to three years, the Philippine Air Force expects to be more able to defend the country's territory with the acquisition of an array of aircraft ranging from utility helicopters to long-range patrol aircraft.
Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Okol, PAF spokesman shared with GMA News Online via phone interview that the acquisitions are parts of a capability upgrade program designed to “strengthen territorial defense.”
Only last Thursday, the PAF said an unidentified aircraft intruded over Philippine airspace on June 11 over the disputed Panatag Shoal, but the aircraft’s type and origin could not be confirmed.
The PAF capability upgrade includes several pieces of air assets.
Four more combat utility helicopters from Poland are on the list. The PAF is also eyeing one long-range patrol aircraft, three pieces of aircraft for medium lift transport, and eight light lift transport.
“We’re also looking at seven attack helicopters. They are next in line,” Okol said.
“But considering all the paperwork, and the fact that we’re purchasing it brand new, it might take two to three years before we receive all the equipment,” the PAF spokesman explained.
Among the more recently acquired hardware are four combat utility helicopters from Poland and 18 basic trainer aircraft. Okol said these units are all brand new.
The helicopters are from Poland while the trainer planes are from Italy.
Okol said the helicopters are “primarily for search and rescue, for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.”
When the helicopters were turned over to the PAF last March 9, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin noted that "these new W-3A Sokol twin engine helicopters are capable of a wide range of roles due to their flexibility and large number of equipment available.”
“They are best suited for a wide range of operations, making them excellent combat utility helicopters,” Gazmin added.
"With this continuing capability upgrade, the PAF will no longer be just Air and no Force but rather an Air Force that can truly support the needs of our people, not only in the field of security but also in the area of humanitarian assistance,” Major General Lauro Catalino G. Dela Cruz AFP, PAF’s Commanding General said at the turnover rites.
The PAF has also included in its long term capability upgrade plan the procurement of surface attack aircraft/lead-in fighter trainer planes, air defense radars, and special mission aircraft.
“They’ve already been approved by the senior leadership of Defense,” Okol said.
“But we’re still waiting for the approval of the President, our Commander-In-Chief,’ he added.
Aerospace and aviation industry website Flightglobal.com notes that the lead-in trainer aircraft the PAF seeks to acquire are meant to “replace the Rockwell OV-10 Bronco.”
“For the lead-in jet trainer requirement, potential candidates include the Korea Aerospace Industries T/A-50 and Alenia Aermacchi's M-346. Both companies have made representations to the air force, which also foresees a light attack role for these aircraft,” Flightglobal.com said in a report last January.
Last May 18, one of 18 Alenia Aermacchi light propeller aircraft the PAF acquired in 1991 crashed on La Monja Island in Manila Bay. The SF 260 plane was on a training mission.
Flightglobal.com also reported that “Manila also plans to request 12 former US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 25 fighters from Washington, although this is not a formal requirement.”
It added that any deal on F-16 for the Philippines from the US “would be similar to the USA's granting last year of permission to transfer 24 ex-US Air National Guard F-16C/D Block 15s - categorized as "excess defense articles" - to Indonesia.”
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