By Brian Jules Campued
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States Pacific Air Forces on Monday held a joint air patrol within the country’s exclusive economic zone as part of the third maritime cooperative activity (MCA).
The PAF’s three FA-50 light jet fighters accompanied a US B-52H bomber aircraft from Ilocos Sur to Occidental Mindoro.
In a statement, PAF said the air patrol covered areas “90 nautical miles west of Candon, Ilocos Sur and 50 nautical miles northwest of Lubang, Mindoro.”
“This cooperative activity aims to bolster cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their US counterparts, thereby enhancing interoperability between its Air Forces,” it added.
The first MCA was conducted in November last year and the second in January – underscoring the AFP’s efforts in protecting the national territory and sovereignty as well as upholding peace and security in the West Philippine Sea.
New aircraft
Meanwhile, the PAF also received another C-130H tactical transport aircraft from the US.
The aircraft, which has a tail number 5157, landed at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga on Feb. 16 and was ferried from Waco, Texas to the Philippines by US aircrew.
It is also the second of two C-130 aircraft given by the US government through its Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Program.
The first unit was delivered last Jan. 29, 2021, and formally turned over to the PAF in February of the same year.
“The new addition will bolster the PAF’s cargo airlift fleet and support humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations, and various military missions,” PAF said in a statement. – avds
