Airbus in talks with PH military to modernize fleet

European aircraft maker Airbus Group Inc. on Tuesday disclosed that it has ongoing discussions with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to modernize the country’s air defense assets.

At a press briefing in Pasay City, Airbus chief representative to the Philippines Jussi Hoikka said the aircraft maker is ready to support the AFP’s “Horizon 3” modernization initiative.

In January, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave the thumbs up for the Philippine military’s “Horizon 3” modernization program.

Under the modernization plan, the AFP will be focusing on archipelagic defense with the acquisition of more maritime assets, aircraft, and radar systems.

“We're always in close discussions with the Air Force… we're always in close collaboration to meet their requirements,” Hoikka said, adding that he was “not at liberty to disclose if there are confidential discussions or negotiations at the moment.”

The Airbus official disclosed that it already completed the Philippine Air Force’s order of seven C295 aircraft in 2021. The acquisition of the air assets began in 2014.

Hoikka said Airbus’ new-generation C295 is a highly versatile and reliable tactical transport, well-suited for the Philippines’ diverse operational needs in military and humanitarian missions.

It is capable of carrying up to nine tonnes of payload or up to 71 troops at a maximum cruise speed of 260 kts.

''Airbus is confident of meeting the Philippines’ future military needs with our cutting-edge technologies and aircraft to help the AFP fulfill their missions to protect its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its citizens,” he said.

Airbus is also enticing the Philippine military with its A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

The A330 MRTT can carry up to 111 tonnes of fuel, the highest capacity of any tanker aircraft in production today. It can offload 50,000 kg of fuel to various receivers during a four-hour loitering mission at over 1,000 nm from its take-off point.

Hoikka added that the A400M will complement the A330 MRTT as it offers versatility for heavy cargo transport, resupply missions, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, and air-to-air refueling without additional fuel tanks.

He said the A400M’s ability to deliver oversized cargo directly to remote locations is invaluable to the Philippines, particularly given its active role in global humanitarian efforts.

In addition, Airbus is offering a portfolio of C4ISR or Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance solutions for comprehensive air surveillance and defense.

These include the Fortion SuRVIn Suite for unified air and maritime surveillance; the Fortion SAMOC for integrating ground-based air defense assets into a cohesive command and control system; the Fortion 1SkyControl for comprehensive airspace management and real-time intelligence integration of air and ground assets; and the Fortion Multi-Int Solutions for intelligence collection, exploitation, and sharing.

On the rotorcraft front, Hoikka said Airbus is showcasing its FlexRotor, an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions and offers superior operational flexibility in both land and maritime environments.

With over 3,700 combat flight hours, the FlexRotor has proven its effectiveness.

Hoikka said the FlexRotor is an ideal fit for the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, “enhancing their ability to identify and classify targets in challenging environments.”

The aircraft maker is also offering the H225M to meet the PAF’s Search and Rescue (SAR) and heavy-lift transport requirements.

“Airbus stands ready to support the AFP with proven solutions, from the C295 and A400M to advanced C4ISR systems. As the Philippines strengthens its defense capabilities under Horizon 3, our expanding partnership reflects our commitment to enhancing the AFP's mission readiness and ensuring the security of the nation,” Hoikka said.

The Airbus official expressed confidence in the growing demand for its air defense assets in the Philippines, taking note of the increasing budget of the AFP for its modernization initiatives.

“We do see defense budgets going up, which has been something that we've seen also in Europe, including in the Philippines,” Hoikka said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News