AFP receives 2 attack choppers, 1 C-295 aircraft

Two new T-129 “ATAK” helicopters from Turkey and a C-295 medium lift aircraft from Spain were turned over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday, the military said Thursday.

In a statement, the AFP said the turnover ceremony was conducted at the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing Hangar in Villamor Airbase, Pasay City, which was presided over by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

The ATAK helicopters, which arrived on March 9, are part of Air Force’s six-unit acquisition from the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) under the Horizon 2 of the AFP Modernization Plan.

According to the AFP, the twin-engine, multi-role, and all-weather T-129 chopper is designed for advanced attack and reconnaissance missions.

The C-295 aircraft, delivered March 28, is part of the first batch of deliveries from the Airbus Defense and Space of Spain which comprises the Command and Control Fixed-Wing Turbo Prop Acquisition project.

This is the first of the three C-295s that the government acquired under the Medium Lift Aircraft Acquisition Project, the AFP said.

C-295 aircraft from Spain (PA photo handout)

“It will be utilized to transport personnel and equipment as well as support disaster relief and humanitarian assistance operations by the AFP, the military said.

Other guests of honor in the ceremony were AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Erickson Gloria and Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commanding General Lieutenant General Connor Anthony Canlas.

“These new aircraft will not just beef up our capabilities but, in deep retrospect, carry the hopes and aspirations of what we want as an Air Force, to become a more agile and dependable organization,” Canlas said.

Also present in the event were Presidency of Defense Industries of the Republic of Türkiye’s Professor Ismail Demir, Ph.D. and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Philippines His Excellency Jorge Moragas Sanchez. —LBG, GMA News