New jets, helis to make PAF more capable of carrying out its mandate

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 18): New jets, helis to make PAF more capable of carrying out its mandate

With the impending arrival of its new jet planes and attack helicopters, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be more capable in carrying out its mandate of defending the country's airspace against intruding and hostile aircraft.

Delivery of this equipment is expected to be completed by 2018.

"Right now we are still in the stage of enhancing it, we expect the air assets to arrive a few months from now until 2018 and this will surely strengthen our capabilities, " PAF chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado stated.

Delgado was referring to the 12 F/A-50 "Fighting Eagle" whose contract was signed last March 28 and expected to be in service by third quarter of 2015 and the eight armed versions of the AgustaWestland AW-109s, whose contract was signed last November, and are expected to be delivered by the third quarter of this year.

The F/A-50s will act as the PAF interim fighter aircraft until funding and training needed for the so-called multi-role fighters have been completed.

The Air Force lost its fighter capability in 2005 when it retired its fleet of Northrop F-5 "Tiger" jet fighters due to airframe aging and lack of suitable spare parts.

This lack has forced the PAF to utilize its SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainers as fighter and ground attack planes.

"This will address some of our territorial defense concerns especially air interdiction," the PAF chief stressed.

Other equipment in the pipeline for the PAF are two long-range patrol aircraft, three medium lift cargo planes, three air defense radars and six close-air support aircraft.

Delgado also reiterated the PAF's commitment to defend the country's airspace in the West Philippine Sea despite its current shortage of equipment and the growing assertiveness of China.

"We are prepared (for) in any contingency that the government will ask us to do as far as the territorial defense is concerned even with meager resources, we are ready to confront any kind of threat should there be a need for us to be really involved but right now we are avoiding any confrontrations, we are adhering to the rule of law, we are supporting the government’s efforts in pursuing our legal complaint in the international courts," he pointed out.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=654912