PH, US air forces hold drill off Pacific coast
Philippine Air Force A-29 Super Tucanos and US Air Force’s (USAF) A-10 Thunderbolt II, which are known as “Warthogs,” recently took to the skies over the Philippine Sea for joint training.
The drills that were part of a Dynamic Force Employment exercise took place on Dec. 12.
A Nevada Air National Guard C-130 H3 Hercules participated in the drills.
At least four A-10 Thunderbolt IIs assigned to the 25th Fighter Squadron landed at Clark Air Base in Pampanga last Dec. 6 for integrated training with PAF counterparts until Dec. 15, the US Pacific Air Forces (Pacaf) said.
Reinforcing partnership
The training was meant to provide pilots and maintenance teams “an opportunity to increase shared capabilities and enhance interoperability.”
“Collaboration in these training activities reinforces the strong partnership between the US and Philippine Air Forces and underscores their commitment to promoting regional stability,” the Pacaf said.
The Warthogs were also photographed in Iloilo International Airport and Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan during its Philippine deployment.
The Warthogs have been with the USAF since the 1970s and underwent upgrades over the years, providing close air support for US missions around the world, including Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. It has also supported maritime operations in recent years.
The A-10s are equipped with 30mm rotary gun and a maximum payload of approximately 7,000 kilograms of bombs and missiles.
The Super Tucanos of the PAF’s 15th Strike Wing, meanwhile, are responsible for supporting close air support, light attack, surveillance, air-to-air interception and counterinsurgency roles.
In late November, the two air forces also trained over the Philippine Sea, using fighter jets.
‘Operationally unpredictable’
According to Pacaf, the Dynamic Force Employment deployments are “strategically predictable but operationally unpredictable in an ever-evolving competitive and contested environment.”
“The US Air Force conducts regular training and engagements such as this within the region to further develop operational readiness and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” it said.
The deployment comes as tensions between Manila and Beijing over the South China Sea continue. In early December, Chinese navy and coast guard ships harassed Philippine vessels at two contested shoals in the West Philippine Sea.
