PAF to get 2 new lift planes

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is awaiting delivery of two brand new light lift planes that the Department of National Defense has purchased from an Indonesian aircraft manufacturer and defense contractor.

This is apart from the three new medium lift aircraft the government has already acquired.

Two CN-212s are now in the production line of PT Dirgantara Indonesia. They are expected to be delivered to the PAF either late this year or in the first quarter of next year.

The acquisition of the two new aircraft is in line with the DND’s P814-million Acquisition of Light Fixed Wing Aircraft Project. This is part of the ongoing modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Once delivered, the two aircraft would be working alongside the PAF’s Nomad and Islander planes in the conduct of airborne operations, medical evacuation, limited maritime patrol and search and rescue operations.

The planes can also be utilized by PAF to transport limited number of troops and cargo, making them ideal for deployment for air operations of the Western Command (Wescom) based in Palawan.

This is a task that is currently being performed by two ageing Nomad and Islander planes.

For now, the Nomad and Islander are alternately being used by the Air Force and the Philippine Navy to conduct airborne sovereignty and maritime patrol over the country’s regime of islands in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.

Aside from maritime patrol, the two planes are also used in the conduct of emergency evacuation of troops and civilian residents from Kalayaan town in Pag-asa Island in the Spratlys.

On Tuesday, a second new medium lift aircraft, one of three C-295M military planes that the government has acquired for the Air Force worth P5.29 billion, touched down at Clark Air Field in Pampanga.

The plane is currently being subjected to inspection prior to its acceptance and commissioning into the service.

The first C295M, manufactured and supplied by Spain-based Airbus Defense and Space (ADS), had been delivered earlier and has joined the PAF’s flying assets.

Delivery of the three medium lift aircraft is expected to be completed with the arrival of the third C295M before yearend, ahead of its original schedule in the first quarter of next year.

The military, meanwhile, received equipment that would enhance its capabilities to address chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats.

The package, which included protective gear and detection equipment, was handed over by the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency in a ceremony held in Camp Aguinaldo yesterday.

Armed Forces deputy chief Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina received the 501 pieces of CBRN response equipment in behalf of the military. The equipment arrived last Sept. 6.

The dismounted reconnaissance set kits and outfits package consisted of CBRN equipment that can be used for site assessment missions.