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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DND buying 3 more C-130s for PAF

DND buying 3 more C-130s for PAF

Published Oct 17, 2023 09:00 am
C130 HERCULES.jpg
C-130 Super Hercules (File phot by PAF)

Three more C-130J-30 Super Hercules cargo aircraft will be purchased by the Department of National Defense (DND) to boost the operational flexibility of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The DND issued a “Notice to Proceed” for the acquisition of the aircraft and awarded the project to Lockheed Martin, an American aerospace, arms defense, information security, and technology corporation.

“The additional cargo space of the C-130J-30, coupled with the reliability of C-130 aircraft we have in our current fleet, will provide our Air Force with greater operational flexibility,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

“These features will empower our PAF to meet the demands of the AFP’s tactical missions more effectively,” he added.

The first two units will be delivered in July and October 2026 while the last one will be arriving in January 2027.

The DND did not reveal the cost of the three aircraft but the discussion for the acquisition began in 2021 as part of the second horizon of the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

At present, the PAF operates a mixed fleet of C-130s which are used for supporting military operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) efforts.

Andolong said that the addition of the C-130J-30 to the inventory “is a significant leap forward in terms of achieving a credible defense posture.”

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