The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) received two new T-129 “ATAK” helicopters from Turkey and a C-295 medium lift aircraft from Spain on Wednesday, according to the military.
The ceremony was held at the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing Hangar in Villamor Airbase, Pasay City, and was presided over by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, according to the AFP.
The six ATAK helicopters arrived on March 9 as part of the Air Force’s six-unit purchase from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) under the AFP Modernization Plan’s Horizon 2.
According to the AFP, the twin-engine, multi-role, all-weather T-129 chopper is geared for enhanced assault and surveillance tasks.
The C-295 aircraft was delivered on March 28 as part of the first batch of deliveries under the Command and Control Fixed-Wing Turbo Prop Acquisition program from Airbus Defense and Space of Spain.
According to the AFP, this is the first of three C-295s purchased by the government as part of the Medium Lift Aircraft Acquisition Project.
“It will be utilized to transport personnel and equipment and support disaster relief and humanitarian assistance operations by the AFP,” the military said.
Spain gives two attack choppers, 1 C-295 aircraft to AFP
AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Erickson Gloria and Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commanding General Lieutenant General Connor Anthony Canlas were also honored guests at the function.
“These new aircraft will not just beef up our capabilities but, in deep retrospect, carry the hopes and aspirations of what we want as an Air Force, to become a more agile and dependable organization,” Canlas said.
Professor Ismail Demir, Ph.D., of the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries, and His Excellency Jorge Moragas Sanchez, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Philippines, were also present.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) and the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) conducted an air assault exercise in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, on April 4 and 5, according to the PA.
The PA claimed in a statement that the company-level joint air attack by its 1st Brigade Combat Team and the US’s 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, helped them achieve their goals.
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