Teodoro reaffirms commitment to acquire fighter jets after China’s flare use

An F-35B Lightning ll fighter aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) takes off during twilight flight operations while underway in the the Philippine Sea, June 6, 2019. Cameron E. Parks/U.S. Marine Corps/Handout/File

MANILA – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to acquire multi-role fighter jets following China’s recent air harassment in the West Philippine Sea. 

Teodoro said the government is committed to strengthening the country’s air defense system. 

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The Defense chief made the remark during the welcome ceremony for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) contingent who participated in the Pitch Black Exercise in Darwin, Australia. This is Manila’s first involvement in the multinational exercise with both aircraft and personnel.

“This is game-changing, once again, and it is a success of the whole of government,” Teodoro said of the PAF’s historic participation. 

“[T]he challenge for you is we need to sustain these kinds of operations. We have to make this the new normal. Year in, year out, more joint and combined exercises with like-minded partners.”

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Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño, and other senior officials attended the event. 

Brawner said the experience from the exercise would be instrumental in the continued development of the AFP’s operational readiness and strategic defense initiatives.

“Our involvement in this multinational exercise is a testament to our commitment to elevating our air combat capabilities and aligning with global standards. It also reflects our dedication to being a reliable partner in ensuring peace and security not only within our region but also on a global scale,” Brawner said. 

“As we continue to modernize our forces, participating in exercises like Pitch Black enables us to refine our tactics, enhance our interoperability with international forces, and fortify our role as a key player in upholding peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added. 

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