This is a list of equipment used by the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that specializes in aerial warfare. It covers active equipment, such as aircraft, ordnances, air defenses, and retired aircraft inventory.
PAF has made use of its existing equipment to fulfill its mandate while modernization projects are underway. The Republic Act No. 7898 declares the policy of the State to modernize the military to a level where it can effectively and fully perform its constitutional mandate to uphold the sovereignty and preserve the patrimony of the republic. The law, as amended, has set conditions that should be satisfied when the defense department procures major equipment and weapon systems for the air force.
Model | Origin | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Surface-to-Air Missile System | |||
SPYDER | Israel | Surface-to-air missile system | Two batteries were inducted into service in November 2022. One more battery was delivered in November 2024. Each battery has 3 Missile Firing Units. [21] [22] Mounted on board Tatra T815-7 truck chassis. [23] |
Anti-aircraft guns | |||
M39 cannon | United States | Revolver cannon | towed anti-aircraft gun taken from the PAF's retired Northrop F-5 fighters. |
Ground-based Radar | |||
IAI Elta ELM-2288ER AD-STAR | Israel | Air surveillance radar | 3 fixed radar systems were delivered under the Air Surveillance Radar Phase 1 Project. [24] Installed at Paredes Air Station, Gozar Air Station, and Mount Salakot Air Station. [25] |
IAI Elta ELM-2106NG ATAR | Israel | Air surveillance radar | 1 mobile radar system delivered free under the Air Surveillance Radar Phase 1 Project. [24] |
Mitsubishi Electric J/FPS-3ME | Japan | Air surveillance radar | 3 fixed radar systems to be delivered under the Air Surveillance Radar Phase 2 Project. [26] [27] [28] The first unit was fully delivered in October 2023. [29] The first unit was turned over to the PAF on 20 December 2023, replacing the General Electric AN/FPS-6 installed at the Wallace Air Station. [30] [31] |
Mitsubishi Electric J/TPS-P14ME | Japan | Air surveillance radar | 1 mobile radar system delivered under the Air Surveillance Radar Phase 2 Project. [26] [28] Mounted on board a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter chassis. [32] [33] |
Model | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armored personnel carriers | |||||
Cadillac Gage Commando 4×4 | United States | Armoured personnel carrier | V-150 | unknown | Used for base defense. [34] |
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | ||||||
P-51 Mustang | United States | Fighter | P-51D | 103 [46] | in service from 1947-1980s. | |
F-86 Sabre | United States | Fighter | F-86D / F-86F | 20 / 50 [47] | in service 1957 - 1979 - replaced by the F-8 Crusader [48] | |
Vought F-8 Crusader | United States | Fighter | F-8H | 25 [49] | in service from 1977 to 1988. [50] | |
Northrop F-5 | United States | Fighter | F-5A/B | 37 [49] | in service from 1965 to 2005 [51] | |
Douglas AC-47 | United States | Ground attack / CAS | 12 [52] | retired from service | ||
North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco | United States | Ground attack / CAS | OV-10A/C/M | 41 | retired from service | |
Transport | ||||||
Douglas C-47 | United States | Transport | 30 [53] | retired from service | ||
Britten-Norman Islander | United Kingdom | Transport | 22 [54] | licensed, produced by PADC [54] | ||
C-123 Provider | United States | Transport | C-123K | 19 [49] | in service from 1975 to 1980 [48] | |
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 | Canada | Utility / Transport | 25 [49] | replaced by the BN-2A Islander in 1980 [48] | ||
Grumman HU-16 Albatross | United States | SAR / Utility | 10 [49] | amphibious aircraft - retired from service | ||
Cessna 185 | United States | Light utility | 17 [49] | retired from service | ||
Cessna 310 | United States | Light utility | 3 [49] | retired from service | ||
Cessna O-1 | United States | Observation | 10 [49] | retired from service | ||
Turbo Commander | United States | Utility | 690A | 2 | retired from service | |
Helicopters | ||||||
Sikorsky H-19 | United States | Utility / Transport | 7 [49] | obtained in 1956 - retired from service | ||
Bell 47 | United States | Utility | 1 [49] | retired from service | ||
Bell 214 | United States | Utility | 2 [55] | retired from service | ||
Bell 212 | United States | VIP | 1 [55] | retired from service - replaced by the W-3 Sokół [56] | ||
Sikorsky H-34 | United States | Utility | 2 [57] | obtained in 1965 - retired from service | ||
MBB Bo 105 | Germany | Utility | 38 [57] | transferred to the Navy [58] | ||
Sikorsky S-62 | United States | VIP | 2 [57] | retired from service | ||
Aérospatiale SA330 | France | Utility | SA330L | 2 [59] | ||
Hughes TH-55 | United States | Trainer | 2 [49] | retired from service | ||
Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | United States | Utility | 8 [49] | retired from service | ||
Bell AH-1 Cobra | United States | Attack | AH-1S | 2 | retired from service | |
Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
Lockheed T-33 | United States | Trainer / Reconnaissance | T-33/RT-33 | 25 / 2 [49] | in service from 1955 to 1970 - replaced by the Marchetti S.211 | |
North American T-6 | United States | Trainer | T-6G | 38 [49] | retired from service | |
North American T-28 | United States | Trainer | T-28A/D | 20 / 24 [49] | in service from 1970 until late 1992 | |
Beechcraft T-34 | Japan | Trainer | T-34B | 36 [49] | licensed, built by Fuji Industries |
The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle (Korean: 골든이글) is a family of South Korean supersonic advanced jet trainers, light combat aircraft and light fighter developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin. It is South Korea's first indigenous supersonic aircraft and one of the world's few supersonic trainers.
The SPYDER is an Israeli short and medium range mobile air defence system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with assistance from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Rafael is the prime contractor and IAI is the major subcontractor for the SPYDER program. This system achieved a notable milestone in 2005 when missiles were fired against test targets in Shdema, Israel and scored direct hits. Since then, it has been showcased in multiple military exhibitions throughout the world.
Cesar Basa Air Base, or simply Basa Air Base, is an airbase currently operated by the Philippine Air Force. It is located at Floridablanca, Pampanga about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is named after César Basa, one of the pioneer fighter pilots of the Philippine Air Force.
The TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform. It was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in partnership with Leonardo S.p.A. The helicopter is designed for armed reconnaissance and attack missions in hot and high environments and rough geography in both day and night conditions.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Initially formed as part of the Philippine Army as the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) in 1935, the PAAC eventually saw combat during World War 2 and was formally separated from the Army in 1947 as a separate service branch of the AFP under Executive Order No. 94. At present, the PAF is responsible for both defending Philippine airspace, and conducting aerial operations throughout the Philippines, such as close air support operations, combat air patrols, aerial reconnaissance missions, airlift operations, helicopter tactical operations, special operations, and aerial humanitarian operations, which includes search and rescue operations. The PAF has also carried out various missions within the country and abroad.
The Del Pilar-class are offshore patrol vessels currently in service with the Philippine Navy and previously in service with the US Coast Guard as Hamilton-class high endurance cutters. The Department of National Defense is currently in the process of upgrading their systems and capabilities under a modernization project awarded to Hanwha Systems of South Korea.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Act, officially designated as Republic Act No. 7898, was a Philippine law that was enacted on February 23, 1995, by President Fidel V. Ramos. It was aimed to modernize all branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) such as the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Army. The law was amended by Republic Act No. 10349, also known as the Revised AFP Modernization Act, on December 11, 2012.
BRP Andrés Bonifacio (PS-17) is the third ship of the Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels of the Philippine Navy. She is the second ship of the Philippine Navy to be named after Andrés Bonifacio, a Filipino revolutionary leader, regarded as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution" and one of the most influential national heroes of the Philippines.
The Jose Rizal class of multi-role guided missile frigates, currently in service with the Philippine Navy, are a heavily modified variant of the Republic of Korea Navy's Incheon-class frigates. The ships, which were built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), are specifically accommodated to fit the requirements of the Philippine Navy. The introduction of the frigates improved the capabilities of the Philippine Navy's Offshore Combat Force, which mostly composed of ships that were retired from other countries and subsequently transferred to the Philippines.
The Japanese arms-export ban, known as the Three Arms Exports Ban, was a de facto law that governed Japanese export of military hardware outside of the country. The export ban was eased on 1 April 2014 by Shinzo Abe during his second term as prime minister.
Rozzano Dosado Briguez is a Filipino general who formerly served as the Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force. He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Sinagtala" Class of 1986, and graduated as Top 2 of his class. He was also a commander of the AFP Western Command, and formulated the new command framework: "Padayon PAF: Perform, Reform, Transform", a framework of his leadership philosophy in the Philippine Air Force.
BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) is the lead ship of her class of guided missile frigates of the Philippine Navy. She is the first purpose-built frigate of the service, as its previous major warships were mostly obtained from retired patrol ships of other countries. She is also one of the navy's primary warships able to conduct multi-role operations, such as coastal patrol, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare.
The K136 Kooryong is a South Korean 36 extended rocket artillery system that was deployed in 1981.
The Miguel Malvar-class frigate is a class of frigates designed and currently built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the Philippine Navy. It was previously known as the HDC-3100 corvette based on the company's product nomenclature system and the service's acquisition project name until it was reclassified to frigate "FF" and then to its current "FFG" guided-missile frigate designation.
The HDP-2200 Future Offshore Patrol Vessel is a class of six (6) offshore patrol vessels designed and built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the Philippine Navy.
The Acero class is a class of patrol gunboats based on the Israel Shaldag V design that are in service with the Philippine Navy.
BRP Herminigildo Yurong (PG-906) is the fifth ship of the Acero-class patrol gunboat of the Philippine Navy. She was commissioned on 21 May 2024, just before the Philippine Navy's 126th Anniversary.
BRP Laurence Narag (PG-907) is the sixth ship of the Acero-class patrol gunboat of the Philippine Navy. She was commissioned on 21 May 2024, just before the Philippine Navy's 126th Anniversary.