Philippines to acquire 3 additional medium tactical transport aircraft

One of the PAF's C-295M aircraft. Credits to source.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) plans to purchase 3 additional medium tactical transport aircraft as it continues to build up its air transport capabilities.

According to Philippine defense page MaxDefense Philippines, the Department of National Defense (DND) has prioritized the acquisition of 3 new medium tactical transport aircraft for fiscal year 2020, with a budget of Php5.288 billion (US$105.7 million).

These aircraft are expected to be assigned with the PAF’s 220th Airlift Wing based in Benito Ebuen Air Base in the central Philippines.

The PAF is currently operating four (4) Airbus-CASA C-295M aircraft, and is expected to order more under this new plan, although it was mentioned that Indonesia’s PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) is also trying to swing the PAF to look into their smaller CN-235-220, which is the basis for development of the C-295M.

Aside from additional medium tactical transport aircraft, the PAF is also waiting for the delivery of a refurbished Lockheed C-130 Hercules from the US, and apparently also possibly getting a second aircraft.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is currently in the process of modernizing its forces, and is currently in the Horizon 2 phase of its program, covering the years 2018 to 2022. 


[1] MaxDefense Philippines
[2] Inquirer.net
[3] Philippine Defense Resource