The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) boosted its aerial capabilities after it received Thursday, May 5, a Beechcraft Hawker aircraft which was donated by the San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana presided the joint formal acceptance, turnover, and blessing ceremony of the Hawker aircraft at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The Hawker 800XP is a mid-size twinjet corporate aircraft acquired by the SMC in 2022. It was donated by SMC to the DND and consequently turned over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
It will likely be used to transport the President of the Philippines, the First Family, and other top-ranking officials of the DND and AFP in official functions.
A ceremonial champagne pouring and turnover of documents to the AFP highlighted the activity.
“The Philippine Air Force will utilize the Hawker 800XP as a Command and Control Aircraft. It will work in tandem or as an alternative system to the Gulfstream G280 acquired by the AFP in 2020,” said Col. Jorry Baclor, chief of AFP public affairs office.
The aircraft will be operated by the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing.
Also present during the activity were Gen. Andres Centino, AFP Chief of Staff; SMC Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ang; Lt. Gen. Connor Anthony Canlas, commanding general of the Philippine Air Force (PAF); Major Gen. Florante Amano, commander of Air Logistics Command; and Brig. Gen. Joannis Leonardi Dimaano, commander of Air Mobility Command.