A commander emphasized on Saturday that the Philippine Air Force must enhance pilot training to accommodate the purchase of 20 or more multi-role fighter jets as part of its modernization and expanded joint operations with the navy.
For the first time, Philippine pilots are participating in the multinational Pitch Black war games, which involve 20 Indo-Pacific and European countries across a broad region of northern Australia. These exercises, according to organizers, are consuming a million liters of aviation fuel daily as fighter jets from the United States, Britain, Australia, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, among others, practice war tactics and skills.
The Philippines deployed four of its twelve South Korean-built FA-50 fighter jets to the games, and is evaluating the capabilities of more advanced jets for its modernization program, as stated by Colonel Randy Pascua, the contingent's commander, to Reuters in Darwin.
The Philippine military chief, Romeo Brawner, announced this month that the government has approved the acquisition of "faster and more lethal" multi-role jet fighters, as the FA-50 was deemed "insufficient to defend our country", although specifics on the type or quantity have yet to be decided.
Pascua highlighted that the air force needs to bridge a "significant technological gap" in its modernization of fighter jets, including enhancing pilot skills. "If we are to acquire more than 20 multi-role fighters, we must indeed intensify our efforts," he stated. "We are here to train and boost our operational capabilities, as we have lacked air defense capabilities for decades."
Participation in Pitch Black is expected to bolster the Philippines' international alliances and "reinforce our dedication to regional security and stability," according to Pascua.
The Philippine Air Force is concentrating on maritime domain awareness in its joint operations with the navy, while Manila is strengthening its air defenses amidst tensions with Beijing. The Philippines and China are in a standoff over the disputed South China Sea, with tensions escalating as China asserts its claims over shoals that the Philippines considers within its exclusive economic zone.
