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Philippines Air Force
Traditionally, the air force's primary mission was air
defense of the nation. In the mid-1980s, however, the air force
shifted its principal effort to supporting the ground forces in
counterinsurgency operations, using both fixed-wing aircraft and
helicopters. The air force's other roles included search and
rescue, transportation, and communications for all services. The
Air Force Security Command (formerly the Aviation Security
Command) was responsible for security of the nation's airports.
The air force regularly took part in disaster relief and
emergency operations in cooperation with civilian organizations
and participated in national development programs.
The air force was headquartered at Villamor Air Base
(formerly called Nichols Air Base) in Manila and was commanded by
a two-star general. Other major bases included Basa and Clark air
bases in Pampanga Province, Fernando Air Base in Batangas
Province, Sangley Point Air Base in Cavite Province, and Mactan
Air Base in Cebu Province. Flight training was conducted at the
Air Force Flying School located at Fernando Air Base. Clark Air
Base in Central Luzon was used primarily by United States forces
based or training there. Although normally based at one of these
facilities, aircraft, especially helicopters, routinely operated
out of forward bases throughout the country in support of area
commands' counterinsurgency operations. With approximately 15,500
officers and enlisted personnel, the air force was slightly
smaller in 1990 than in the early 1980s, when personnel totaled
16,800.
The air force inventory in 1990 included fifteen combat
aircraft and seventy-one armed helicopters, all United Statesmade (see
table 21, Appendix). In 1987, the Philippines grounded
its fleet of F-8 Crusaders, leaving only two squadrons of F-5
Freedom Fighters to provide air defense. The fighters were armed
with United States-made AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles.
Counterinsurgency operations were supported by a squadron of
eight T-28D Trojan propeller-driven trainer/attack airplanes, and
a wing equipped with fifty-five Bell UH-1H/Iroquois transport
helicopters and sixteen AUH-76 attack helicopters.
Support units included seven transport squadrons; three
training squadrons; a presidential airlift wing; and assorted
reconnaissance, search and rescue, and liaison aircraft. Aircraft
assigned to these elements were obtained from many countries,
including Britain, Australia, Italy, and the Netherlands as well
as the United States. In 1990 the air force expanded its
capabilities by acquiring a variety of new aircraft. The
Philippines received four Italian S-211 jet trainers and
contracted for delivery of fourteen more. In addition, the air
force was to receive twenty-nine United States-made MD-520 attack
helicopters and hoped to upgrade its fighter fleet with the
purchase of two squadrons of more modern fighters.
Data as of June 1991
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