Additional 2 U.S. C-130s to be available by 2015 --AFP chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 24): Additional 2 U.S. C-130s to be available by 2015 --AFP chief

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang has said that the two United States Lockheed "Hercules" C-130 cargo aircraft, earlier offered to the country by the Americans, will be made available by 2015.

"They (US officials) said that the planes will be available next year. We are just finalizing the (transfer) documents," he added.

Catapang said that the C-130s are from the U.S. stocks which will be refurbished before entering Philippine service.

He added that these planes are still in operational condition.

The AFP chief said they were originally looking at the possibility of acquiring Australian C-130s but were forced to look elsewhere after Indonesia managed to acquire these planes much earlier.

The C-130s will be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and cargo-carrying missions.

The Philippines only has three operational C-130s at its aircraft fleet when in reality it needs 10 to efficiently carry out these missions.

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