Philippine Air Force Modernization 2019 Expected Air Assets Delivery

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Published on May 3, 2019 by

Here’s what the Philippine Air Force Aircraft are going to receive this year. This modernization project is part of Philippine Air Force Modernization Horizon 1 and is going to be delivered this year.

Bell Cobra Attack Helicopter

The helicopters are Bell AH-1F Cobra gunships currently used by the Royal Jordanian Air Force and were offered to the Philippines sometime in 2017. Officials from the Department of National Defense inspected the helicopters in Jordan.

The confirmation about the agreement came after the Philippines and Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation between the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and the Department of National Defense of the Philippines.

Bell Hercules C-130 Transport Aircraft

Way back In August 2018, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza Tuesday said the Philippines plans to acquire several more C-130 cargo planes to further improve the operational readiness of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). In an interview, Lorenzana said one of the C-130s would be exclusively used for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Last December 2018, the outgoing Philippine Air Force Chief provided a hint that the US will provide two C-130 transport aircraft this year.



Way back In 2016, the United States successfully turnover the two C-130 Aircraft to the Philippine Air Force. The procurement is part of the US Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. The Philippines paid $35 million (about P1.6 billion) for the two C130s. The actual cost is $55 million, but US Foreign Military Financing covered $20 million, which bring the Philippine Air Force C-130 planes to five units.

Unfortunately, in March 2019, one C-130 planes caught fire as it was going to take off from Clark Air Base.

An Upgraded OV-10 Bronco

In July 2018, The Philippines is the last operator of the OV-10 Bronco, with its air force currently operating between eight and ten aircraft. It also possesses several airframes that have transfer into storage. The country has previously upgraded its OV-10s to employ laser-guided bombs designated by troops on the ground.

However, the Philippines will be liable for the costs of transporting them from the United States, with the transfer expected to take place later this year and the aircraft expected to be ready for service in early 2019.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Monday said the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is expected to receive four OV-10 aircraft soon from the United States to further boost their air assets.

ELM 2188 Radar

The ELM-2288 is an air defense and air traffic control radar (AD-STAR), which can operate independently and as part of a more extensive air defense system.

The air defense radar system with Israel was signed in 2014, to strengthen Philippines surveillance capabilities in the South China Sea.



Gen Kintanar revealed that the Philippine Air Force is expecting the remaining 2 IAI Elta EL/M 2288ER AD STAR Extended Range Air Defense Radar from Israel. It is delayed already since the 2nd radar should already be delivered before the year ends (2018).

The Philippine Air Force received the first AD STAR radar on the last quarter of 2017 and is already in service today.

Hermes 450 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Elbit Systems has been offering the Hermes 450 to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) since 2010, and after eight years, the deal has finally come to fruition. The acquisition is part of the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program (RAFPMP).

According to MaxDefense, Elbit will supply four Hermes 450 UAVs for Php8,470,000,000 (about $158 million). The sale is part of a Government-to-Government (G2G) undertaking between the Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) and the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD). The UAVs will be operated by the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing (300thAISW) of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).



Super Tucano Close Air Support Aircraft

The Philippines place six A-29 Super Tucano light attack and advanced training aircraft from Brazil’s Embraer in 2017.

The turboprop aircraft, chosen in a  bidding process as part of the Philippine Air Force’s ongoing modernization plan. The aircraft will be used for close air support, light attack, surveillance, air-to-air interception, and counterinsurgency missions. Deliveries to the PAF’s 15th Strike Wing will begin in 2019.

Fixed Wing Command and Control Aircraft

Most likely it is identical to CASA C-295, but we don’t have additional details about it.

 

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