The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) further boosted its air defense capabilities as it inaugurated a new simulator training center on Tuesday, April 26.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana led the ceremonial acceptance, turn-over, and blessing of the Spyder Air Defense System (SPADS) Simulator Training Center at the Basa Air Base in Pampanga.
Lorenzana said that acquiring capital assets to help defend the country from hostile forces “has always been one of the priorities” of the DND.
“As your Defense chief for nearly six years, my happiest and proudest moments were the attainment of milestones in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program,” he said during the ceremony.
The simulator training center aims to develop three different capabilities of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) namely detection through radar, command and control, and missile firing.
It is also custom-made for the men and women of the PAF to utilize in their training on advanced air defense techniques, Lorenzana added.
The Defense chief then urged the PAF to take advantage of the new facility and prepare for more assets that will come as the AFP enters the third horizon of its modernization program.
“May this new simulator training center inspire you to look into the Command’s bright future, utilize its capabilities to ensure the success of your missions,” Lorenzana said.
The ceremony was also attended by Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commanding General Lieutenant General Connor Anthony Canlas, Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, and other ranking military officials.