The Philippine Air Force (PAF) stated that the grounded FA-50PH fighter jet fleet remains ready for deployment if required to address emergencies or national security concerns.
“We can assure that our aircraft are available anytime that they are needed to respond to (any) emergencies or issues of national concern,” PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in an interview Sunday.
The 11 FA-50PH fighter jets left were administratively grounded after the March 4 crash of the aircraft with tail number 002 in the Bukidnon mountain range, which claimed the lives of two pilots.
Castillo assured the public that a “very thorough investigation” of the incident will be conducted, emphasizing the importance of the FA-50 fighter jets to the country’s national security.
“(But) any time that we need to deploy our aircraft to address any national concern or national emergency we’re going to deploy them,” Castillo noted.
The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50PH units from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion. These aircraft were delivered from 2015 to 2017.
The Air Force, meanwhile, is anticipating the delivery of 22 Black Hawk helicopters from Polish aerospace manufacturer PZL Mielec beginning this year until 2026.
Castillo stated that the PAF personnel assigned to operate the incoming Black Hawk helicopters will undergo rigorous training to ensure they are fully equipped to fly and maintain the aircraft.
“This 2025, we are expecting the arrival of Black Hawk helicopters. This is an ongoing acquisition. We have ordered 32 units and 10 of them arrived so far,” she said.
The PAF procured 32 Black Hawk helicopters from PZL Mielec, a subsidiary of the American defense and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin, under a contract signed in February 2022 valued at P32 billion.
The first batch of five helicopters was delivered in June 2024, followed by a second batch of five in December 2024.
“Then 15 units will arrive and another seven within this year until next year,” Castillo said. “Anytime that there are new equipment arriving, especially those that are not in our inventory, the training of our pilots and maintenance crew is always included in the acquisition process.”
“We always make sure in all aspects that our pilots are well trained as well as the crew who will maintain our air assets because we spend millions and billions for these. Aside from that, what’s more important are the lives of the crew,” she added.