FOUR fighter jets of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) arrived on Wednesday in Darwin, Australia where it will be taking part in a multi-lateral exercise.
The exercise, called Pitch Black 2024, is the first military outside the country involving PAF aircraft.
PAF spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo said the FA-50 fighter aircraft arrived in Australia, along with a C-130 transport plane carrying 162 personnel. They comprise the main body of the PAF contingent taking part in the exercise which will start today and end on August 12.
The first batch of the contingent arrived in Australia last Sunday.
Castillo said the main body was welcomed by Air Commodore Peter Robinson, Pitch Black 2024 exercise director, on their arrival at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin.
Robinson told Reuters, “This is the first time they have taken their combat aircraft abroad since 1963 so it is a huge honor for Australia to be chosen as the first location for the deployment.”
He also said the Philippine fighter jets would work with other air forces “to solve some complex problems against a simulated adversary and ground threats.” The US F-22 stealth fighter and Australia’s F-35A and F-18 are among the combat aircraft taking part.
“Bringing that package together will provide an impressive outcome that is stronger than its parts,” Robinson said.
The Air Force initially said it was sending four to six FA-50 fighter jets for the exercise.
Castillo said they decided to send only four “because we need to ensure that we have enough aircraft to respond to operational requirements here in the country.”
The PAF has 12 FA-50 jets which were acquired from the Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion under the AFP’s modernization program.
Castillo said the four FA-50s took off from the Basa Air Base in Pampanga and made a stop in Indonesia before heading to Darwin, Australia.
She said the FA-50s will be involved in “basic fighting maneuvers, air combat maneuvering and other fighter aircraft tactics” during the Pitch Black exercise.
“There will be field training exercises, flight integration training, and training on large force employment ,” she added.
She said some of the participating PAF personnel will take part in several community engagements, sports activities and socialization with Filipino communities in Australia. — With Reuters
