PAF to showcase new capabilities in 77th anniversary demonstrations

From GMA News Online (Jun 25, 2024): PAF to showcase new capabilities in 77th anniversary demonstrations (By JOVILAND RITA)

As part of its 77th anniversary, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday said it will conduct capability demonstrations that will showcase the service's new capabilities.

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, PAF spokesperson Colonel Maria Consuelo Castillo said the demonstrations is a major part of the activities for the air force’s 77th anniversary, which will be held at Basa Air Base, Pampanga on July 1.

“We're going to have a simulated scenario wherein isi-simulate natin na merong kailangan na territory na kailangan nating ma-win back from the enemies,” Castillo said.

(We're going to have a simulated scenario wherein we will simulate that there is territory that we need to win back from enemies.)PAF personnel will stage demonstrations that will include airstrikes, helicopter operations, intelligence reconnaissance and surveillance.

“So we're going to do airstrike missions, intelligence reconnaissance and surveillance of the area using our unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). And then, mag-iinsert po tayo ng mga tropa gamit ang ating mga Blackhawk helicopters using fast rope insertion and extraction systems,” she said.

(So we're going to do airstrike missions, intelligence reconnaissance and surveillance of the area using our unmanned aerial vehicles. And then, we will insert troops using our Blackhawk helicopters using fast rope insertion and extraction systems.)

“Ipapakita rin po nating capabilities ng ating ground-based defense system dahil yan po yung bago nating capability na kaya na nating mag-identify ng neutralized na hostile aircraft from the ground,” she added.

(We will also show the capabilities of our ground-based defense system because that is our new capability that we can now identify neutralized hostile aircraft from the ground.)

Aside from the capability demonstration, the PAF will also have an aircraft fleet flyby in celebration of its anniversary, which has the theme: "Accelerating Above and Beyond: 77 Years of PAF Excellence in Protecting the Nation and Securing the Skies."

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is expected to attend the event, according to Castillo.—RF, GMA Integrated News

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