AFP to highlight modern assets in 85th anniversary fleet review
SOME OF the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) s most modern assets would participate in the fleet review and wing fly to be held in Morong, Bataan on Wednesday, as part of the celebration of its 85th founding anniversary.
Navy Capt. Jonathan Zata, AFP public affairs office chief, said some ships of the naval contingent consists of the brand-new missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), offshore patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), patrol ship BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35), BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), landing craft BRP Batak (LC-299), patrol craft BRP Abraham Campo (PC-396), and BRP Ang Pangulo (AT-25).
Published December 15, 2020, 3:15 PM
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will conduct a fleet review and wing flyby to showcase the military’s current roster of ships, choppers, and land vehicles including the newly purchased equipment under the revised modernization program in a ceremony to be held in Morong, Bataan on Wednesday.
Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will spearhead the AFP’s fleet review, a traditional gathering of ships, which will be conducted in connection with the military’s 85th founding anniversary that carries the theme, “Pinag-isang Lakas na Maaasahan ng Pilipino.”
Source: Philippine Air Force
Manila is contemplating a top up order of 16 additional S-70is, in addition to the 16 examples planned
Source: Philippine Air Force
Source: Philippine Air Force
Source: Philippine Air Force
Speaking at the event, defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that another 16 were being contemplated, according to a Philippine News Agency report.
Lorenzana added that Philippine air force chief Lietenant General Allen Paredes had advised him that operating a single type of helicopter is better in terms of maintenance and training.
Lorenzana added that funds should be available for the follow on by.
“The chances of that being fulfilled are very big actually, so we’ll see,” Lorenzana is reported as saying.
- December 11, 2020, 12:37 PM
The first six S-70i Black Hawks were officially blessed and handed over to the PAF during a ceremony at Clark Air Base on December 10. (Photo: Philippines Department of National Defense)
The Philippines formally commissioned its first six Sikorsky/PZL S-70i Black Hawks into the Philippines Air Force s 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing on December 10. Now the nation is pondering the acquisition of a second batch for the PAF.
The country signed a $241 million contract for the first batch of 16 S-70is in March 2019 after a deal with Canada to procure a similar number of Bell 412s fell through in February 2018. Although Canada had delivered eight Bell 412s in 2015, Ottawa had subsequently questioned the Philippines’ plans to use the helicopters for “internal security operations.”