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Missions in WPS unaffected by grounding of fighter jets - PH Navy

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
March 19, 2025, 1:38 pm

MANILA -- The grounding of the FA-50PH fighter jet fleet does not affect the country's maritime domain awareness (MDA) capability in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a ranking naval official said late Tuesday.

"The MDA capability of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has different components. One of these components is the air component composed of different aircraft to include the FA-50. The FA-50 is not the major contributor for our MDA although they form part of the overall picture," Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson for the WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said in a media briefing.

The Philippine Air Force's (PAF) 11 remaining FA-50PH fighter jets were ordered grounded on March 5 after the crash of a similar aircraft following a nighttime tactical operation in Bukidnon a day earlier.

"Their grounding does not affect the requirements of the AFP for MDA (as) this will be covered up by the other capabilities that we have," Trinidad said.

He said other assets and capabilities could be tapped for MDA missions in the WPS.

"There are other aircraft, there are other sensors, other capabilities that could cope (with) the temporary grounding of the FA-50 aircraft," Trinidad said.

Meanwhile, PAF deputy public affairs office chief, Maj. Joseph Richard Calma, said they could not give an exact timeline on when the grounding of the FA-50PHs would be lifted.

He added that the grounding would be in effect until the conclusion of the investigation.

Calma agreed that the PAF still has other capabilities that could be used for territorial defense missions.

"We have our ground-based air defense system (Spyder air defense missiles), we have our aircraft (for) aerial reconnaissance and surveillance. We (also have) the (SIAI Marchetti subsonic) (S-211 jet trainers) also that can back up (our FA-50PHs)," he added.

He said the remaining FA-50PHs could be flown immediately in case they are needed for national security emergencies. (PNA)