Philippine Air Force

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) (Filipino: Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Initially formed as part of the Philippine Army (Philippine Army Air Corps), the PAF is responsible for both defending the Philippine Airspace, and conducting aerial operations throughout the Philippines, such as close air support operations, combat air patrols, aerial reconnaissance missions, airlift operations, tactical operations and aerial humanitarian operations. The PAF is headquartered at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, and is headed by the Chief of the Air Force, who also serves as the branch's highest-raking military officer.

Philippine Air Force
Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas
Seal of the Philippine Air Force
Founded1 July 1947 (1947-07-01)
Country Philippines
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size
  • 16,000 personnel[1]
  • 211 aircraft
Part of Armed Forces of the Philippines
HeadquartersColonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Motto(s)"Guardians of our Precious Skies, Bearers of Hope"
Colors Air Force Blue 
MarchPhilippine Air Force Hymn[2]
Engagements
Websitewww.paf.mil.ph
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Rodrigo Duterte
Secretary of National DefenseDelfin Lorenzana
Chairman of the Joint ChiefsGen. Gilbert I. Gapay, PA
Chief of the Air ForceLt. Gen. Allen T. Paredes, PAF
Deputy Chief of the Air ForceMaj. Gen. Florante M. Amano, PAF
Chief of the Air Force StaffMaj. Gen. Fernyl G. Buca, PAF
Air Force Sergeant MajorCMSgt Nelson S. Mercado, PAF
Insignia
Roundel
Flag
Battledress identification patch
Aircraft flown
AttackA-29B, AS-211, OV-10A/C, SF-260TP/MP
FighterFA-50PH
HelicopterBell 412EP, UH-1H/D, W-3A, S-70A-5/i, S-76A/AUH-76
Attack helicopterMD520MG, AH-1F, AW109E Power
PatrolF27-200MAR, C-130
ReconnaissanceAero Commander, Cessna 208, ScanEagle, Hermes 450, Hermes 900
TrainerSF-260FH, T-41B/D
TransportIPTN NC-212, C-130B/H/T, F27, F-28-3000, G280, N-22B, C-295M

The PAF has an estimated strength of over 16,000 personnel and operates 211 aircraft.[1]

History

Early years and World War II

The forerunners of the Philippine Air Force was the Philippine Militia, otherwise known as Philippine National Guard (PNG). On March 17, 1917 Senate President Manuel L. Quezon enacted a bill (Militia Act 2715) for the creation of the Philippine Militia. It was enacted in anticipation that there would be an outbreak of hostilities between United States and Germany.[3]

By the end of the First World War, the US Army and Navy began selling aircraft and equipment to the Philippine Militia Commission. The Commission then hired the services of the Curtiss Flying School to provide flight training to 33 students at Camp Claudio, Parañaque.

The early aviation unit was, however, still lacking enough knowledge and equipment to be considered as an air force and was then limited only to air transport duties.[3] On January 2, 1935, Philippine Military Aviation was activated when the 10th Congress passed Commonwealth Act 1494 that provided for the organization of the Philippine Constabulary Air Corps (PCAC). PCAC was renamed the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) in 1936. It started with only three planes on its inventory. In 1941, PAAC had a total of 54 aircraft including pursuit (fighters) light bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, light transport and trainers.[3] They later engaged the Japanese when they invaded the Philippines in 1941–42, and were reformed in 1945 after the country's liberation.

Post-WWII and AFP restructuring

PAF P-51 Mustang

The PAF became a separate military service on July 1, 1947, when President Manuel Roxas issued Executive Order No. 94. This order created the Philippine Naval Patrol and the Air Force as equal branches of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Constabulary under the now Armed Forces of the Philippines[4] becoming Southeast Asia's third air force as a result.

The main aircraft type in the earlier era of the PAF was the P-51 Mustang, flown from 1947 to 1959. Ground attack missions were flown against various insurgent groups, with aircraft hit by ground fire but none shot down. In the 1950s the Mustang was used by the Blue Diamonds aerobatic display team.[5] These would be replaced by the jet-powered North American F-86 Sabres in the late 1950s, assisted by Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star and Beechcraft T-34 Mentor trainers.

The PAF saw its first international action in the Congo under the UN peacekeeping mission in 1960.

Marcos rule and People Power Revolution

F-86D of the Philippine Air Force

During the 70s, the PAF was actively providing air support for the AFP campaign against the MNLF forces in Central Mindanao, aside from doing the airlifting duties for troop movements from Manila and Cebu to the warzone. Traditional workhorses like the UH-1H choppers, L-20 “Beaver” aircraft, and C-47 gunships were mainly used in the campaign. In the same decade, the PAF Self-Reliance Development Group, the forerunner of the Air Force Research and Development Center (AFRDC) was created. The Center enabled the PAF to create prototypes of aircraft aside on going into partnership with the private sector for some of its requirements.[6]

In late 1977, the Philippine government purchased 35 secondhand U.S. Navy F-8Hs that were stored at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona. Twenty-five of them were refurbished by Vought and the remaining 10 were used for spare parts. As part of the deal, the U.S. would train Philippine pilots in using the TF-8A. They were mostly used for intercepting Soviet bombers. The F-8s were grounded in 1988 and were finally withdrawn from service in 1991 after they were badly damaged by the Mount Pinatubo eruption, and have since been offered for sale as scrap.[7]

On February 24, 1986 at the height of the "EDSA Revolution", the 15th Strike Wing defected to the Ramos-Enrile camp, taking their squadrons of S-76 “Sikorsky” that later dictated the EDSA People Power Revolution which effectively ended the Marcos rule.

1986–1990 Coup attempts

A Vought F-8H Crusader (ex U.S. Navy BuNo 148649) of the Philippine Air Force in flight.

The following years remained hostile for the Philippines, a series of bloody coup attempts led by then-Col Gregorio Honasan of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, involved thousands of renegade troops, including elite units from the army and marines, in a coordinated series of attacks on Malacanang and several major military camps in Manila and surrounding provinces, including Sangley and Villamor Air Base, using the T-28 aircraft for aerial assaults. President Corazon Aquino found it necessary to request United States support to put down the uprising. As a result, a large US special operations force was formed and named Operation Classic Resolve, as USAF F4 fighter aircraft stationed at Clark Air Base patrolled above rebel air bases, and two aircraft carriers were positioned off the Philippines. The US operation soon caused the coup to collapse. Additional US forces were then sent to secure the American embassy in Manila. The military uprisings resulted in an estimated US$1.5 billion loss to the Philippine Economy.[8]

US Military departure from the Philippines

The Cold War Era has reached its endpoint as tensions between the two ideological rivals, the United States and the Soviet Union, have simmered down as a result of the dissolution of the latter and the massive change of political system among its allies.

An aerial photo of Clark Airbase in Central Luzon

The fate of the US military bases in the country was greatly affected by these circumstances, aside from the catastrophic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 which engulfed the installations with ash and lahar flows. The nearby Clark Air Base was eventually abandoned afterwards, while the Philippine Senate voted to reject a new treaty for Subic Naval Complex, its sister American installation in Zambales. This occurrence had effectively ended the century-old US military presence in the country, even as President Corazon Aquino tried to extend the lease agreement by calling a national referendum, leaving a security vacuum in the region and terminated the inflows of economic and military aid into the Philippines. [9] [10]

AFP modernization efforts and Asian Financial Crisis

The importance of territorial defense capability was highlighted in the public eye on 1995 when the AFP published photographs of Chinese structures on Mischief Reef in the Spratlys.

The PAF MD-520MG displayed at the Mall of Asia.

Initial attempts to improve the capabilities of the Armed Forces happened when a law was passed in the same year for the sale of redundant military installations and devote 35 percent of the proceeds for the AFP upgrades. Subsequently, the legislature passed the AFP Modernization Act. The law sought to modernize the AFP over a 15-year period, with minimum appropriation of 10-billion Pesos per year for the first five years, subject to increase in subsequent years of the program. The modernization fund was to be separate and distinct from the rest of the AFP budget.

However, the Asian Financial Crisis struck the region on 1997. This has greatly affected the AFP Modernization Program due to the government's austerity measures meant to turn the economy around after suffering from losses incurred during the financial crisis.[11]

A C-295M assigned to the Tactical Operations Group 5 taxis at Legazpi Airport

Several air assets acquired by the Philippine Air Force thru the original AFP Modernization Program of 1995 were the AW109 armed scout helicopters, and airlift assets like the Airbus C295 and CASA C212 Aviocar. [12]

A decade of neglect

F-5A, now retired from the Philippine Air Force

Since the retirement of the Northrop F-5s in September 2005 without a planned replacement, the Philippine air force was left without fighter jets. The PAF resorted to the Aermacchi S-211 trainer jets to fill the void left by the F-5's. These S-211's were later upgraded to light attack capability and used for air and sea patrol and also performed counter-insurgency operations from time to time.[13] The only active fixed wing aircraft to fill the roles were the SF-260 trainers with light attack capability, the OV-10 Bronco light attack and reconnaissance aircraft and the AS-211 warriors (upgraded S-211).

South China Sea arbitration case and revised AFP Modernization Program

The incidents with Chinese presence in the South China Sea prompted the Philippines to proceed with formal measures while challenging the Chinese activities in some of the sea features in the disputed island chain. Hence, the South China Sea Arbitration Case was filed by the Philippines in 2013 at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).[14]

Reminiscent to what occurred in 1995, the Congress passed the Revised AFP Modernization Act of 2012, this was meant to replace the older AFP Modernization Act of 1995 signed during former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos’ term, when its 15-year program effectivity expired in 2010.[15]

Two FA-50 Golden Eagle light multi-role fighter/trainer jets escorting a Philippine Airlines flight carrying President Benigno S. Aquino III

Major air assets acquired in this new modernization program iteration are 12 FA-50 Light Fighters, while those programmed for future procurements are the Multi-Role Fighters and the Maritime Patrol Aircraft, among other equipment.[16]

Flight Plan 2028

In response to regional strategic challenges and perceived internal weaknesses, the PAF has embarked on a transformation process to enhance its capabilities. Flight Plan 2028 is administered by the Air Force Strategy Management Office (AFSMO), and aims to:

  • Build the PAF capability to detect, identify, intercept and neutralize intrusions in the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone (PADIZ) and the South China Sea (to the North and West of the archipelago) from Area Readiness 4 to Area Readiness 3 by 2022.
  • Build the PAF capability to detect, identify, intercept and neutralize intrusions into the entire Philippine territory from Area Readiness 3 to Area Readiness 1 by 2028;

The plan calls for a reorienting of the Philippine Air Force from a primarily internal security role to a territorial defence force. It will require substantial organisational, doctrinal, training, strategic and equipment transformation.

US-Philippine Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement

In April 2014, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement was signed by the representatives of the Philippine and US Governments, aimed at bolstering the military alliance of both countries. The agreement allows the United States to rotate troops into the Philippines for extended stays and allows the U.S. to build and operate temporary facilities on Philippine military bases for both American and Philippine forces' use.[17] [18]

Both parties agreed to determine the military installations across the Philippines as covered by the pact, including the former US Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base, as well as several locations on Cebu, Luzon, and Palawan. [19]

As of 2016, four PAF bases and one Army camp have been determined by the United States and the Philippines to be utilized under the agreement. The Air Force Bases are Basa Air Base, Antonio Bautista Air Base, Benito Ebuen Air Base, and Lumbia Airfield.[20]

Organization

The Philippine Air Force is commanded by the Chief of the Air Force, holding the rank of Lieutenant General, and is assisted by the Vice Chief of the Philippine Air Force, and the Chief of Air Staff, in charge of organizational and administrative matters, both holders of the rank of Major General. The Philippine Air Force consists of three tactical commands, three support commands, and seven air wings.

Tactical commands

The three Tactical Commands are in the direct control of the PAF Leadership while serving his function in the command chain of the AFP. These units are jointly reactivated and reorganized on July 21, 2017 while effectively replacing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Air Divisions as part of the PAF Flight Plan 2028.[21]

  • Air Defense Command
  • Air Mobility Command
  • Air Combat Command (formerly Tactical Operations Command)

Support commands

Air wings

5th Fighter Wing, Basa Air Base – It is responsible for air defense and interdiction. It replaced the Air Defense Wing after the two were reactivated to their original status on 2017.

  • Flying units:
    • 7th Tactical Fighter Bulldogs Squadron – currently flies the KAI FA-50PH Fighting Eagle multirole fighter aircraft.
    • 105th Fighter Training Blackjacks Squadron – conducts jet qualification and training for future fighter-bound pilots. Currently flies the Aermacchi AS-211 jet training aircraft.

15th Strike Wing, Danilo Atienza Air Base – It is responsible for providing combat air support to surface forces of the AFP.[22]

205th Tactical Helicopter Wing, Benito Ebuen Air Base – It is responsible for conducting tactical helicopter operations in support of the PAF and AFP.[23] The wing currently flies the Bell UH-1H Huey, Dornier-Bell UH-1D Huey, Bell 412EP, and S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters.

  • Flying Units:
    • 206th Tactical Helicopter Hornets Squadron
    • 207th Tactical Helicopter Stingers Squadron
    • 208th Tactical Helicopter Daggers Squadron
    • 210th Tactical Training Squadron
  • Support Unit:
    • 450th Maintenance and Support Group

220th Airlift Wing, Benito Ebuen Air Base – It provides tactical airlift operations in support of the AFP. It is also currently the unit temporarily responsible for conducting long range maritime patrol and air reconnaissance.[24]

250th Presidential Airlift Wing, Villamor Air Base – It provides air transportation to the President of the Philippines, immediate members of his/her family, heads of states, state guests, and very very important persons (VVIP).[25]

300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing, Antonio Bautista Air Base – responsible for conducting surveillance, intelligence gathering, and maritime patrol using air and ground assets.

355th Aviation Engineering Wing, Clark Air Base – the unit is tasked to provide general engineering support, including construction, repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of PAF aerodrome facilities and utilities.[26]

580th Aircraft Control and Warning Wing, Wallace Air Station – It is responsible for operating air defense and surveillance radar systems of the PAF. It was reactivated on November 3, 2016 after being downgraded to a Group on April 1, 2005.[27]

710th Special Operations Wing, Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base – It is responsible for conducting special operations, counter terrorism, and defense of PAF bases and facilities. The unit is also being groomed to be responsible for ground-based air defense system (GBADS) units which is being inducted into the PAF's future capabilities.

  • Combat Units:
    • 720th Special Operations Group – based in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City
    • 730th Combat Group
    • 740th Combat Group – based in Fernando Air Base, Lipa City
    • 750th Combat Group – based in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City
    • 760th Combat Group
    • 770th Special Operations Combat Support Group – based in Clark Air Base, Angeles
    • 772nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron
    • 773rd K-9 Squadron
    • 780th Ground Based Air Defense Group

Separate units

505th Search and Rescue Group, Villamor Air Base – It is responsible for air search and rescue operations in support of the AFP and civilian agencies.[28] The unit currently flies the Bell 205A, UH-1H Huey II, Bell UH-1H Super Huey, and the PZL W-3A Sokół as SAR helicopters, and the Sikorsky S-76A and S-70 as Air Ambulances.

  • Flying Units:
    • 5051st Search and Rescue Squadron
    • 5052nd Search and Rescue Squadron

900th Air Force Weather Group

Aerobatic teams

The Philippine Air Force Blue Diamonds "Sabre" emblem on a F-86F Sabre, circa 1962.

The Philippine Air Force had a number of aerobatic teams among which the PAF Blue Diamonds was the first to be founded, and was one of the oldest formal aerobatics teams in the world. The proceeding units listed are currently at inactive status due to the retirement of their aircraft, most notably the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighters.

  • Blue Diamonds – 5th Fighter Wing, Air Defense Command
  • Red Aces – 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 5th FW
  • Golden Sabres – 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 5th FW (merged with the Red Aces on 1973)
  • Bubuyogs – PAF Helicopter Precision Demonstration Team, 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing

Bases

The Philippine Air Force has nine major air bases and several radar, communications, and support facilities located throughout the archipelago. Shared facilities with commercial airports currently being used as detachments by the Tactical Operations Command were not included here.

LuzonLocation
Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base Pasay City, Metro Manila
Clark Air Base Angeles, Pampanga
Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base Capas, Tarlac
Cesar Basa Air Base Floridablanca, Pampanga
Basilio Fernando Air Base Lipa, Batangas
Danilo Atienza Air Base Cavite City, Cavite
Wallace Air Station San Fernando, La Union
Paredes Air Station Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte
Gozar Air Station Lubang, Occidental Mindoro
Parañal Air Station Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte
Visayas
Benito Ebuen Air Base Mactan, Cebu
Guiuan Airfield Guiuan, Eastern Samar
Antonio Bautista Air Base Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Mt. Salakot Air Station Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Mindanao
Edwin Andrews Air Base Zamboanga City
Rajah Buayan Air Station City of General Santos
Lumbia Airfield Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental

Current inventory

Aircraft

An FA-50PH of the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron
A W-3A Sokół of the 505th Search and Rescue Group
An S-76 search and rescue helicopter
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
KAI FA-50  South Korea light multirole FA-50PH 12[29]
OV-10 Bronco  United States attack /
surveillance
OV-10A/C 7[30] Upgraded to OV-10M standard with 4-bladed propellers
A-29 Super Tucano  Brazil attack /
close air support
A-29B 6[31]
Transport
GAF Nomad  Australia transport N-22B 3[30]
CASA C-212  Indonesia transport NC-212i 2[32]
CASA C-295  Spain transport /
VIP transport
C-295M 4[33] One (1) unit configured for VVIP
C-130 Hercules  United States transport C-130 B/H/T 5[34] 1 of 2 C-130 aircraft acquired by PAF from US arrived on 30 January 2021.[34]
Turbo Commander  United States utility 2[30]
Cessna 208  United States intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance C-208B 2[35]
Fokker F27  Netherlands transport /
maritime patrol
1[30]
Fokker F28  Netherlands VIP transport 1[30]
Gulfstream G280  United States VIP transport 1[36]
Helicopters
Bell UH-1  United States utility UH-1H
UH-1D
13[37]
10[38]
12 units of UH-1H airframes in storage, in need of spare parts to be operated.[37]
3 out of 13 UH-1D crashed in three separate incidents between 2015 to 2020.[38]
Bell 205  United States utility 205A 8[30]
Bell 412  United States utility /
VIP transport
412HP[39]
412EP[39]
2
11
The 250th Presidential Airlift Wing operates 2 units of 412HP and 6 units of 412EP variants.[39]
Sikorsky S-70  Poland
 United States
utility
search and rescue
S-70i[40]
S-70A-5
6(+10)
1
10 more units of S-70i set to be delivered in 2021.[40]
Sikorsky S-76  United States search and rescue /
air ambulance
S-76A 2[41]
PZL W-3 Sokół  Poland search and rescue W-3A 5[42] 3 out of 8 Sokol helicopters crashed.[42]
MD 500 Defender  United States armed scout 520MG 25[30]
AgustaWestland AW109  Italy armed scout AW109E Power 8[43]
Bell AH-1 Cobra  United States attack AH-1S 2[44]
Trainer Aircraft
SIAI-Marchetti S.211  Italy jet trainer /
light attack
AS-211 3[30]
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260  Italy basic trainer /
light attack
SF.260TP
SF.260FP
11
10[30]
Cessna T-41  United States primary trainer T-41B
T-41D
15
14
UAV
Boeing Insitu ScanEagle  United States surveillance ScanEagle II 6[45][46]
Hermes 450  Israel surveillance Hermes 450 4[47]
Hermes 900  Israel surveillance Hermes 900 9[47]

Equipment

A PAF OV-10 Bronco equipped with the Paveway Laser-Guided Bomb.
Name Origin Type Notes
Missile
Python-5  Israel Short-range air-to-air missile /
Surface-to-air missile
part of the SPYDER ER Air Defense System set to be delivered within 2021.[48]
I-Derby ER  Israel Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile /
Surface-to-air missile
part of the SPYDER ER Air Defense System set to be delivered within 2021.[49]
AIM-9B Sidewinder  United States Short-range air-to-air missile
AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder  United States
 Germany
Short-range infrared homing air-to-air missile Delivered on 2019, to be fitted on the Air Force's FA-50PH Light Fighter Jets.[50]
AGM-65G2 Maverick  United States Infrared imaging air-to-surface missile fitted on the PAF's FA-50PH Light Fighter Jets.
BGM-71 TOW  United States Helicopter-launched anti-tank missile fitted on the AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopters.
Precision-guided munition and General-purpose bombs
GBU-10 Paveway II  United States Laser-guided bomb
GBU-12 Paveway II  United States Laser-guided bomb
GBU-16 Paveway II  United States Laser-guided bomb
GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II  United States Dual-mode GPS and laser-guided bomb
GBU-24 Paveway III  United States Laser-guided bomb
Mark 81 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Mark 82 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Mark 83 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Mark 84 bomb  United States Low-drag general-purpose bomb
Joint Direct Attack Munition  United States Precision-guided munition
Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket  United States
 Israel
Precision-guided munition a test-buy project set to be delivered within 2020-2021, to be equipped on the AgustaWestland AW109 Light Attack Helicopters, the AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopters and the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano Light Attack Aircraft.[51]
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System  United States Precision-guided munition
Air-to-ground Rockets
Hydra 70  United States Air-to-ground rocket fitted at the SIAI-Marchetti AS-211 Warrior Light Attack Aircraft and the McDonnell Douglas MD 520MG Defender Light Attack Helicopters.
Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket  United States Air-to-ground rocket
Zuni  United States Air-to-ground rocket
Anti-aircraft warfare
M39 Cannon  United States Anti-Aircraft gun Taken from the decomissioned F-5 Jets
Minigun  United States Rotary heavy machine gun
M2 Browning  United States Heavy machine gun
Surface-to-air missile
SPYDER[52]  Israel Medium Range Air Defense System 18 SPYDER-ER Missile Firing Launchers (+3 batteries) set to be delivered. Notice of Award released to the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. [53]

Radar Systems

Name Origin Type In service Notes
Radars
Bendix AN/FPS-20  United States early-warning radar unknown
General Electric AN/FPS-6 Radar  United States height finder radar unknown
IAI Elta Systems ELM-2288ER AD-STAR[54]  Israel air surveillance radar 3 fixed radar systems Air Surveillance Radar Phase 1 Acquisition Project[55]
IAI Elta Systems ELM-2106NG ATAR  Israel air surveillance radar 1 mobile radar system Part of the negotiated deal of the Air Surveillance Radar Phase 1 Acquisition Project[55]
Mitsubishi Electric J/FPS-3ME[56]  Japan air surveillance radar 3 fixed radar systems Start of delivery in 2022.[57]
Mitsubishi Electric J/TPS-P14ME[56]  Japan air surveillance radar 1 mobile radar system Start of delivery in 2022.[57]

Future aircraft

Aircraft Origin Type Variant Quantity Notes
Multi-role fighters 12 The Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (Horizon 2) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force has stalled negotiation due to pricing and funding issues.[58] The main contenders for the project are the F-16 Block 70 Viper and the Saab JAS-39 Gripen C/D MS20.
Attack Helicopters 6 The DND signed a contract with TAI, and has even released the Notice to Proceed (NTP) and 15% initial payment for the acquisition of 6 T129 ATAK Attack Helicopter. Though sanctions affecting the helicopters' engines are delaying the project. Due to the delays, plans were also laid for the acquisition of the Bell AH-1Z Viper, the Boeing AH-64 Apache, and the PZL Mielec S-70i Armed Helicopter remains the top alternative for the acquisition of attack helicopters.[59]
Sikorsky S-70  Poland Combat utility helicopters S-70i Black Hawk 25 10 more units of S-70i are set to be delivered in 2021.[60] 15 additional units set to be acquired, planned to replace the Bell UH-1 Helicopters.[61]
C-130 Hercules  United States Transport C-130H 1 1 of 2 C-130 aircraft acquired by PAF from US arrived on 30 January 2021.[34]
Seaplanes Search and rescue aircraft / Patrol Aircraft 3 The Philippine Air Force announced requirements for the acquisition of two seaplanes in 2013 with a projected cost of ₱2.67 billion (US$55.3 million).[62]
Long-range patrol aircraft 2 Alenia Aermacchi, Airbus Military and Elta Systems bought bid documents for the acquisition of long-range patrol aircraft with a projected cost of ₱5.976 billion (US$124 million). The PAF is also in talks with the US in plans for the acquisition of 2 P-3C Orions.[63]
Mil Mi-17  Russia Heavy lift helicopters Mi-171Sh/Mi-171A2 16 (+1 VVIP) These sixteen helicopters will be used for cargo transport with a total cost of US$235 million. 15 percent of the total cost has been distributed for payment by the Department of Finance. Another unit will be purchased as a VVIP transport.[64]

See also

References

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