One of the three C295 transport aircraft that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has acquired from a European defense supplier is already in the country, even as the Army is awaiting for the delivery of armored personnel carriers that were refurbished and upgraded by an Israeli company.
The acquisitions are still part of the ongoing modernization of the Armed Forces, which is currently beefing up its land, air and sea assets as it accelerates its shift toward territorial defense, partly due to the territorial dispute in the South China Sea, primarily with China.
Air Force Spokesman Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya said the C295 medium transport plane ordered from Airbus Defense and Space arrived at Clark on Sunday afternoon and is already being checked for its christening into the service.
Earlier, Airbus reported on its web site that the C295 was turned over to Philippine officials in Seville, Spain, on March 18, and was already on its way to the Philippines for its eventual service into the military.
The three C295 were being procured with a total worth of P5.29 billion taken from the modernization program of the military.
Meanwhile, the Army is also awaiting for the delivery of 28 upgraded M113 armored personnel carriers (APCs) from Israeli defense contractor Elbit System Ltd., thus, beefing up its land-based fire support systems and mission.
The 28 APCs, 14 of which were upgraded into fire support vehicles, four as armored recovery vehicles, six as armored personnel carriers and four as infantry fighting vehicles, were procured with a total amount of P882 million.
Eighteen of the APCs will be delivered by May 11, while the remaining 10 will be turned over two months after the first delivery.
According to Elbit, the armored personnel carriers would be armed with the latest automated firing system that has a 99.9-percent accuracy of hitting its target with a single bullet.
“This means that the sighting and correction for wind shear and other factors are done electronically and that a highly accurate and computerized firing control ensures for a very lethal weapon system against the enemies of the state,” Elbit said.
APCs are usually fitted with machine guns that indulge in strafing fire.
The upgraded APCs are also equipped with modern thermal sights and infrared equipment, which means that the fighting and targeting and firing can be done under pitch darkness and under complete darkness, which will allow soldiers to effectively engage their targets even under the cover of complete darkness.
The M113s, which have been acquired under a government-to-government contract, are in “brand new condition” with an average kilometer reading of less than 1,000 kilometers, which included testing.