CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City — Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Republic of the Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the Acceptance Turnover and Blessing Ceremony of the C295 Medium Lift Aircraft and the FA-50PH Capability Demonstration Flight at Clark Air Base, Pampanga recently.
The acquisition of the C295 Medium Lift Aircraft is part of the PAF’s medium-lift aircraft acquisition project which aims to enhance the Air Force’s Medium Tactical Airlift Requirement.
It can be recalled that the first airbus defense and space C295 medium-lift transport aircraft was acquired on March 28, 2022, the second aircraft on November 1, 2022, and lastly the C295 Medium Lift Aircraft acquired on Tuesday which marks the completion of the PAF’s Medium Lift Aircraft Acquisition Project
According to Lt Gen Stephen P Parreño PAF, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force, “This aircraft will surely enhance our Air Force’s capabilities to provide prompt and sustain air mobility operations to support troop transport, resupply missions, casualty evacuations, medical evacuations, aerial reconnaissance, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.”
His Excellency Miguel Utray Delgado, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Philippines expressed his hope for a continued goodwill relationship between the two countries much more in terms of the capability development of both their armed forces.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr highlighted the importance and realizations of the Revised AFP Modernization Program in fortifying the country’s defense systems and expressed his gratitude to the PAF for the success of their acquisition program, and the government of Spain for the assistance they have given the Philippines in this endeavor.
“Through the additional C295 aircraft, the AFP will be able to provide more responsive support to government agencies especially in emergency situations and in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Operations. While this equipment will boost the readiness of our Air Force to respond to any contingency, there is a need to further improve our capabilities to effectively cover our territory,” the President said.
Present during the ceremony were Officer-in-Charge of the Department of National Defense, Senior Undersecretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., AFP Chief of Staff, Gen Andres C Centino PA, Commander of Northern Luzon Command, Maj Gen Fernyl G Buca PAF, other government officials, and top officials of the AFP and PNP. (Unlinews Online)
