PAF to showcase territorial defense capabilities on 77th anniversary

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25, 2024): PAF to showcase territorial defense capabilities on 77th anniversary By Priam Nepomuceno

Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo (Screengrab from PTV)

MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will display its territorial defense capabilities in its 77th founding anniversary, an official said Tuesday.

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said their capabilities to retake territory taken by hostile forces and to detect, track, and neutralize enemy aircraft would be shown on July 1 at the Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga.

"We are going to have a simulated scenario where in, sisimulate na meron na kailangan territory na kailangan natin ma-win (we will stimulate a territory that we need to win back) from the enemies," Castillo said.

She said there would be airstrike missions, intelligence reconnaissance and surveillance of the area using unmanned aerial vehicles.

"And then mag-iinsert tayo ng mga tropa gamit ang ating mga (we will insert troops using our) 'Black Hawk' helicopters, using fast-rope insertion and extraction system," she said.

Castillo said the PAF will also display the capabilities of its new Ground-Based Air Defense System (GBADS), also known as the Israeli-made Spyder mobile air defense system which provides the Air Force to protect the country's airspace from hostile aircraft.

The first two GBAD batteries were delivered in 2022 while the third is expected to be delivered anytime this year.

She said this capability is new to PAF, which allows it to detect, identify and neutralize enemy aircraft from the ground once it penetrates Philippine airspace and reaches land.

The GBADs is "an extra layer of defense" to complement the PAF's other defensive systems that includes the FA-50PH light fighter aircraft, she said.

Aside from the capability demonstrations, she said the PAF would have a flyby in honor of the event to be attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

"We're going to have, of course, the usual flyby (of) our aircraft. We (hope) to have it livestream, and of course, we are expecting to have our President and Commander-in-Chief as our guest-of-honor," Castillo said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227614