The Philippine Air Force (PAF) air mobility fleet will benefit from five new Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transport aircraft, after the House of Representatives approves additional funding for the purchase of new aircraft.
According to local media reports, the House of Representatives approved a request for an additional 5.5 billion pesos ($108.3 million) in the 2022 General Appropriations Act to cover the down payment of the order.
Lieutenant General Alan Paredes, the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Air Force, was quoted as saying that the force urgently needs to improve its airlift capabilities for humanitarian assistance and disaster response, the repatriation of overseas foreign workers, and the deployment of troops.
On July 4, a PAF C-130H Hercules medium transport aircraft crashed in the Patikul village of Jolo, Sulu province. The Philippine Department of Defense (DND) said in a statement that 96 military personnel were on board the 5125 aircraft at the time of the accident.
Defense Minister Delphine Lorenzana subsequently announced that the plane crashed when it dashed off the runway while trying to land at Jolo Airport. All passengers on the C-130H — assigned to PAF’s 220th Airlift Wing, operated by three pilots and five crew members — were Philippine Army personnel who were transferred to the province to strengthen the protection from Abu Sayyaf The security of organized militants and other threats.
The Philippine authorities have since retrieved flight data and cockpit recorders from the wreckage.
The C-130H was recently put into PAF service in February. It is the first of two former United States Air Force (USAF) aircraft acquired under the US Excess Defense Item Program. The second aircraft is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
Another C-130H operated by the unit was cancelled after a fire at Clark Air Force Base in March 2019. It is understood that there are still four serviceable C-130s of various models in its current inventory.
Xiao Wu
