The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has received the first of its three Airbus Defense and Space C-295 medium-lift transport aircraft acquired from Spain.
PAF spokesman, Col. Maynard Mariano said the C-295 aircraft which safely landed at Clark Air Base Pampanga on Monday, “is part of the PAF Modernization Program approved by the current administration. “This project will fill in our gap in airlift requirements,” Mariano said.
Signed in 2019, the contract for the three C-295 aircraft is P5.288 billion. They are acquired under the “Medium Lift Aircraft Acquisition Project” pursuant to the RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Mariano said the PAF Air Mobility Command 220th Airlift Wing will operate the aircraft which will be used to transport troops and equipment to various parts of the country.
The three new aircrafts will augment the four C-295 units the PAF previously acquired.