News update Air Force pins modernization hopes on Aquino

MANILA, Philippines - The chief of the Philippine Air Force on Monday urged President Benigno Aquino III to rush the modernization of the Philippine Air Force which used to be the greatest firepower in Asia during the Marcos years.

“Your Excellency, when we said earlier that today heralds a new flight path for us, we are not only referring to a footprint in time, marked by our anniversary accomplishments; we were also suggesting need to fast-track our overdue modernization,” Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena said in his speech during the 63rd Air Force foundation anniversary at Villamor Air Base.

Rabena said the Air Force, which has about 17,000 officers and men, has began to “pin our hopes and attach our pinions on your presidency.” Aquino assumed the presidency only last June 30.

Rabena said the Air Force has already prepared its Short and Medium Term Plans proposal for 2011 to 2017, after different rounds of symposia and workshops. The military is expecting to transition to external defense from internal security operations (ISO).

“And we are working to determine the gaps not only in our capabilities but in our missions and deployments in order to become a more relevant and effective servant of the people. We have long planned for our delayed transition to territorial mode once the timelines for ISO are adequately met,” said Rabena.

Incidentally, the new Armed Forces chief, Lt. Gen. Ricardo David, has set a timeline of two to three years to defeat the communist New People’s Army. In 2006, President Arroyo directed the military to end insurgency on or before her term ends but this was not accomplished.

“But definitely Mr. President, we shall seek your help to strengthen our wings, to protect our bases and stations and to further boost our airmen’s morale and welfare,” the Air Force chief said.

“Mr. President, the whole of the Air Force draws assurance from your very words during your inauguration,” added Rabena, referring to Aquino’s declaration that It is not proper to treat pitifully those who make sacrifices. Among the aircraft that are in the pipeline of the Air Force, under the military’s modernization program, is the acquisition of C-130, night-capable attack helicopters, and long-range patrol aircraft, among others.

In his address, Rabena narrated the Air Force’s accomplishments during the past year, from disaster-response, air and ground operations against threat groups, construction of infrastructure projects, conduct of humanitarian missions, peacekeeping operations, to ensuring the peaceful conduct of the May elections.

“Our accomplishments, however, do not provide us or our country sufficient assurance for the same or higher level of success next year or in the future. For given the current status of our fleet, our wing - and by extension our scope and speed of operations – are admittedly limited,” said Rabena.

“We are concerned as most of you about the number and quality of our primary assets even as we have been recovering or acquiring additional aircraft. We take with a serious outlook our operational readiness rates and our aircraft maintenance and management programs,” said Rabena.