Air Force to get 40 Hueys, 4 Broncos

Forty Vietnam War-vintage helicopters and four OV-10 Bronco attack planes are due to arrive this year to augment the depleted fleet of the Philippine Air Force.

PAF chief Lt. Gen. Nestor Santillan said that of the 40 UH-1H or Huey helicopters, 10 were donated by the US government while the remaining 30 were bought under the AFP modernization program.

"These helicopters are due to arrive any time this year. Their acquisition is already in the pipeline," he said.

Santillan said four OV-10 Broncos donated by the Thai government are also due to arrive in March.

OV-10 bombers serve as the military’s backbone on the air in its anti-insurgency campaign, replacing the World War II-era T-24 bombers, commonly known as "Tora-Tora."

Of the original 24 OV-10 Broncos on its inventory, the Air Force lost eight in various a mishaps. The Broncos are being augmented by dozens of S-211 Augusta trainer jets which have been converted into fighter planes.

So far, the PAF still relies on its aging F5-A Freedom jet fighters for its air defense. Of the several dozens in its inventory during the 70s, only a few remain airworthy today.

"Hopefully, these air assets will boost our air inventory," Santillan said.

Santillan expressed hopes that should the helicopters arrive early, they will be deployed for the May elections.

This early, the Air Force is making available two if its C-130 transport planes and Huey helicopters to transport election materials to far-flung areas of the country.

"Hopefully, we will have four C-130 cargo planes flying by May and these can be immediately utilized for election duties," he said.

Santillan also announced that the Air Force in-house modernization program has some success in the "recovery" of 22 aircraft which was earlier considered as beyond repair.