A logistics company on Monday said it was ready to support the country’s defense sector with the delivery of additional two military aircraft in the coming months.
Johan Pelissier, head of Asia Pacific, Airbus Defence and Space, said the Philippines is an important market for his firm, and where the company has been present with a physical footprint in the local aerospace industry for over four decades.
Citing the success of the C295 program in the region which represents nearly 30 percent of the global orders acquired by military agencies, Pelissier said the Philippine Air Force uses its fleet of C295 extensively for humanitarian and airlift missions across the counbtry, notably in recent times supporting COVID-19 aid and disaster reliefs.
“The Philippine Air Force’s active use of the C295 has fully demonstrated it as a reference user of the tactical airlifter in the region,” Pelissier said.
Beyond its tactical airlifting capability, said the C295 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) can boost the Philippines’ maritime security readiness.
“The C295 is already widely recognized in the country for its airlifting prowess, representing the best combination of value and capability. It is also designed for demanding MPA missions. With a proven track record in similar operations, the C295 MPA offers the lowest risks, yet the best acquisition, operating and life-cycle costs in its category,” Pelissier said.
The C295 MPA is equipped with Airbus’ state-of-the-art mission system – Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS), and comprehensive sensor suites, which makes it the only military MPA platform in-service today that is highly robust and tactically ready at any time.
Pelissier also talked about how the larger transport aircraft such as the A400M were effectively deployed to support critical missions including the Kabul airlift operation, and most recently to fill the gap left by the unavailability of the Antonov for out-sized cargo.
“The A400M has been used substantially in Southeast Asia for search and rescue, medevac, humanitarian and strategic transportation missions. Two A400M aircraft recently transported a fleet of
helicopters to the Philippine Air Force all the way from Turkey, underscoring its heavy lifting capability as a front-line airlifter,” Pelissier said.
“With growing needs in the region, including the Philippines, for fleet modernization and renewal of legacy assets, we believe Airbus is well placed to offer an A400M-C295 strong mixed fleet solution to support both strategic and tactical requirements,” he added.
The Customs bureau has assured that adequate border security measures were in place to stamp out all sorts of smuggling activities and modus operandi involving counterfeit goods.
The agency also stated it will support legitimate businesses that pay proper duties and taxes.