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PH Air Force sharpens skills with US counterpart thru 'Iron Blade' drill

Philippines | National

PH Air Force sharpens skills with US counterpart thru 'Iron Blade' drill

By Martin Sadongdong

PAF FA50.jpg — A Philippine Air Force (PAF) FA-50 fighter jet takes off for the Iron Blade exercise. (Photo: PAF)

Following its participation in the “Pitch Black” Exercise in Australia, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) continued to hone the skills of its pilots as it teamed up with the United States Pacific Air Force (PACAF) for the “Iron Blade” exercise.

Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, PAF spokesperson, said that the bilateral integration exercise involved a combined force of two FA-50PH fighter aircraft from PAF, two US Air Force FA-22 fighter aircraft, and a US Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

The PAF and US PACAF aircraft conducted formation flights between Basa Air Base in Pampanga and Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu on Friday, Aug. 9.

A photo exercise was also incorporated in the mission.

“This joint exercise underscores the strong and enduring partnership between the Philippines and the United States, and their commitment to regional security and stability,” Castillo said on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Apart from the aerial maneuvers, Filipino and American servicemen also shared their expertise on flight operations and maintenance and cargo-related operations during subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) in Pampanga and Mactan.

Iron Blade is part of the PACAF’s redeployment activities and Manila is one of the stopover points before heading to Kadena Air Base in Japan.

The US Air Force contingent has a total of six F-22s and three C-130s participating in the stopover.

Last Aug. 2, the PAF concluded its three-week participation in the Pitch Black exercise in Darwin, Australia which marked the first time that it sent a fighter jet to an international military exercise.

Related Tags

US Pacific Air Force PAF PH-US Iron Blade exercise

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