PNoy vows to beef up air force fleet with long-range planes

From GMA News (Jul 1): PNoy vows to beef up air force fleet with long-range planes

New aircraft, including attack helicopters and long-range patrol planes, will be procured in the next five years to beef up the country's air force, President Benigno Aquino III vowed Monday.

During the Philippine Air Force's (PAF) 66th anniversary celebration here, Aquino pledged to allocate a portion of the Armed Forces' P75-billion modernization fund for the next five years to buy lead-in fighters, long-range patrol aircraft, close air support aircraft, attack helicopters, air defense radars, flight simulators and other modern equipment.

"Nananalig ako: sa pagsasanib ng mga pagkilos ng pamahalaan upang gawing mas moderno ang inyong mga pangangailangan, at ang panibagong dangal at kumpiyansa ng taumbayan sa ating kasundaluhan, talagang magiging abot-langit ang serbisyong hatid ng Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas," said Aquino, the military's commander-in-chief.

Aquino said the procurement aims to strengthen the country's defense and prevent the loss of lives among soldiers, adding last week's plane crash in Palawan involving a military 0V-10 Bronco aircraft should never happen again.

"Ang ganitong mga pangyayari nga mismo ang iniiwasan natin simula’t sapul pa. Kaya naman, nakatutok tayo sa modernisasyon ng ating pambansang tanggulan," the President said.

Aquino added that the PAF should be modernized to be able to make Filipinos feel more secure against those who try to "shock" and "pressure" them.

Aquino made these statements amid an ongoing territorial dispute with China over parts of the South China Sea.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/315372/news/nation/pnoy-vows-to-beef-up-air-force-fleet-with-long-range-planes