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Marcos Jr. vows to continue PH Air Force modernization

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Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Philippine Air Force planes display the national colors during the inauguration of the 17th president of the Republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 30, 2022. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News/file" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/07/01/20220701-ph-air-force-anniversary-gc-7.jpg"/><figcaption>Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commanding General Lt.Gen Connor Anthony Canlas Sr. hands over the pilot’s jacket memento to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Haribon Hangar, Air Force City, Clark Air Base, Pampanga as they celebrate PAF’s 75th Founding Anniversary on July 1, 2022. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Friday vowed to prioritize enhancing the capacity of the country&#x27;s Air Force, as it celebrated its 75th founding anniversary. </p><p>In his speech, Marcos emphasized the importance of improving the country&#x27;s air capabilities, which the government uses for relief operations during calamities, disasters, and for protecting the nation from extremist groups.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/25/22/airbus-to-deliver-2-new-c295-planes-to-philippine-air-force">Airbus to deliver 2 new C295 planes to PH Air Force, boost maritime security</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/08/22/paf-to-showcase-modern-aircraft-on-independence-day">PH Air Force to showcase modern aircraft on Independence Day</a></li></ul><p>&quot;They shall be equipped with more state-of-the-art fighter planes and armed with more firepower,&quot; said Marcos, the Armed Forces ncommander-in-chief. </p><p>&quot;The enhancement of the PAF&#x27;s capabilities is one of the top priorities of this administration,&quot; his message read.</p><p>During his speech, he thanked the previous administration for continuing PAF&#x27;s modernization.</p><p>He also recognized the efforts of PAF&#x27;s personnel in defending the country&#x27;s airspace. </p><p>&quot;The ongoing defense modernization efforts is in coordination with the basic prerequisites that would complement this administration&#x27;s vision for a stronger, bigger, and effective air force capable of defending and maintaining our sovereign state and of assisting our people in times of dire consequences and today&#x27;s reality that this dictates,&quot; Marcos said during the event in Clark, Pampanga.</p><p>&quot;A more modern, aerial, and surveillance capability is all the more felt given the territorial disputes that we in the Philippines are involved in,&quot; he added.</p><p>The Philippines has been upgrading its military assets amid a territorial dispute with China over Beijing&#x27;s expansive claims in the South China Sea.</p><p>The Philippine military was one of the most poorly equipped in Asia when former President Benigno Aquino III began a modest modernization program in 2012. </p><p>PAF in late March received 1 of 3 new C-295 medium -ift airplanes. Airbus said in April that the country would receive the rest of it in the coming months. </p><p>The C-295 maritime patrol aircraft is equipped with Airbus’ state-of-the-art mission system – Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) and comprehensive sensor suites. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/25/22/airbus-to-deliver-2-new-c295-planes-to-philippine-air-force">Airbus to deliver 2 new C295 planes to PH Air Force, boost maritime security</a></li></ul><p>Airbus had said the country&#x27;s Air Force uses its fleet of C-295 extensively for humanitarian and airlift missions across the archipelago, especially in recent times supporting COVID-19 aid and disaster reliefs.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2102947" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div style="text-align:center"><em><strong>Video from PCOO</strong></em></div>

Marcos emphasized the importance of improving the country's air capabilities.

Marcos Jr. vows to continue PH Air Force modernization

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Marcos Jr. vows to continue PH Air Force modernization

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 01, 2022 06:23 PM PHT

|

Updated July 01, 2022 09:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Bongbong Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr

diamond anniversary Philippine Air Force

PAF

Philippine Air Force 75th anniversary

defense

air defense

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