The Philippine Air Force (PAF) acquired a brand new C295 medium lift aircraft from Spain to boost its current fleet of assets.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. served as the guest of honor and speaker during the joint acceptance, turnover, and blessing ceremony of the PAF C295 medium lift aircraft with tail number “217” at the Clark Airbase in Mabalacat City, Pampanga on Tuesday, March 7.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreno, PAF Commanding General, said the “new generation” aircraft is the third and final unit of C295 delivered by Spanish firm Airbus Defense and Space to the PAF as part of its Medium Lift Aircraft Acquisition Project under the revised modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

It can be recalled that the PAF ordered three units of C295 from Airbus Defense and Space to further improve its airlift capabilities. After the signing of the contract worth P5.288 billion in 2019, the first unit was delivered to PAF on March 28, 2022 while the second one arrived on Nov. 1, 2022.

The PAF also welcomed the arrival of its Fokker F27 “Friendship” turboprop aircraft with tail number “620.” The aircraft completed a major maintenance inspection and repair in Indonesia recently.

“These aircraft will surely enhance our air force’s capability to provide prompt and sustained air mobility operations to support troop transport, resupply mission, casualty evacuations, medical evacuations, aerial reconnaissance, and humanitarian and disaster relief operations,” Parreno said.

The C295 medium lift aircraft is intended for short and medium range military transport. It is an all-weather certified aircraft which is capable of performing a variety of flight missions.

The PAF chief thanked the national government for their “commitment to support the troops” and the Spanish government for their “dedication to deliver and fulfill their obligations.”

Meanwhile, the PAF also held a flight demonstration capability of its FA-50PH fighter jets which was witnessed by Marcos to show the progress of the command in securing the country’s airspace.

Also in attendance were Department of National Defense Officer in Charge (DND-OIC) Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr., AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Philippines Miguel Utray Delgado, other ranking defense and military officials, and representatives from Airbus Defense and Space, Embassy of Spain, and local government unit of Pampanga.