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PH Air Force gets another C-208B aircraft

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
April 25, 2025, 9:53 am

MANILA -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has formally accepted into service another Cessna C-208B Caravan Ex aircraft, raising the number of these planes in its fleet to four.

In a statement Thursday night, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said PAF chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura led the acceptance, turnover, and blessing ceremony for the aircraft at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City earlier in the day.

"This versatile C-208B EX aircraft joins three others of its kind in the PAF inventory, which have been heavily used for a wide range of missions, including troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and humanitarian assistance," she added.

"This aircraft marks the first arrival of a new air asset for this year, reinforcing the PAF's capability to support AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) operations and national development efforts."

Castillo said the C-208B Caravan EX aircraft arrived at Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga on April 16, and underwent a stringent technical inspection.

"It was funded through the Philippine General Appropriations Act of 2023 and acquired from Servo Aerotrade Services, Inc., and manufactured by Textron Aviation in Wichita, Kansas, USA," she added.

Castillo said the aircraft is part of the PAF's continuing platform acquisition program, aimed at modernizing and expanding its fleet to meet evolving operational demands.

In 2024, the PAF accepted several key platforms under Horizon 2 of the AFP Modernization Program.

These included two T-129 ATAK helicopters, 10 S-70i Blackhawk helicopters (part of a larger acquisition of 32 units from Poland), one fixed air surveillance radar system, and a ground-based air defense system.

"Furthermore, the PAF also welcomed a C-130H tactical transport aircraft on Feb. 16, 2024, under the US government's Excess Defense Articles Program," Castillo said.

She said these strategic fleet enhancements underscore the PAF's commitment to a stronger defense posture and more effective disaster response, ensuring greater capability and readiness in addressing emerging national and regional security concerns.

"Particularly, the PAF's airlift assets, such as the C-130s, C-295s, and C-208Bs, along with rotary assets like the newly acquired medium-lift 'Black Hawk' helicopters, are expected to support the AFP Unified Command's operational requirements for the upcoming midterm national elections," Castillo said. (PNA)