The re-arming Philippine Air Force (PAF) continues its expensive modernization program designed to deter China, but might soon start receiving Chinese and Russian military equipment because of the Philippines' communist president Rodrigo Duterte.

The PAF yesterday received a second Lockheed C-130 Hercules turboprop military transport aircraft from the United States. This plane is the second of two C-130s bought by Duterte's pro-American predecessor, Benigno Simeon Aquino.

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The Philippines paid $35 million for both C-130s. The actual cost was $55 million but U.S. foreign military financing covered $20 million.

The PAF now operates five C-130s, which it mainly uses to airlift Filipino government troops and equipment to trouble spots, especially those in Mindanao with its festering Muslim and communist insurgencies. The transports are also used to ferry humanitarian aid to provinces affected by typhoons and other natural disasters.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza highlighted the role of the C-130s in relief efforts to help the victims of Typhoon Lawin that struck northern Philippines last week. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg concurred with this statement.

"With this new addition to your C-130 fleet, I know that the Philippine Air Force will be even more prepared to respond when called upon to deliver aid in case disaster strikes," said Goldberg during the turnover ceremony at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City located in Metro Manila.

"This event significantly symbolizes the Philippines' relations with the United States," said Lt. Gen Edgar Fallorina, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force, in an apparent effort to assuage U.S. feelings over the pro-communist and pro-China bent of his president.

"It has served as a steady anchor in our recognition of the interlocking linkage between peacekeeping and peace-building towards lasting peace, security and development, not only in the Asia-Pacific region, but globally."

Duterte has not shown any enthusiasm for the PAF's modernization program named "Philippine Air Force Flight Plan 2028," which is aimed mainly at protecting the Philippines' territorial sovereignty against China.

Over the past two months, the harebrained Duterte has revealed his true colors as a communist by allying himself with China and praising Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The goal of the PAF's modernization program is for the PAF to acquire the ability to Detect, Identify, Intercept and Neutralize Intrusions in what it describes as "Area Readiness (AR) 3 and 4" around the Philippines by 2022.

AR3 and AR4 cover around 74% of the Philippines' territory including all of Luzon, most of the Visayas and most parts of its claimed territories in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or South China Sea

By 2028, the PAF aims to expand this coverage to 100% of the Philippines' territories.

TagsPhilippine Air Force, PAF, Lockheed C-130, Delfin Lorenzana, Lt. Gen Edgar Fallorina, Philippine Air Force Flight Plan 2028