pakbet0826
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Registration date : 2009-02-19
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 Subject: Air Force to get South Korean planes Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:59 pm |
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The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be getting 15 training planes donated by South Korea, a spokesman of the service branch said Wednesday.
The 15 T-41B trainers are a "token of friendship" from South Korea, Major Gerardo Zamudio, Jr. said.
The aircraft will be turned over by Korean Ambassador Choi Jung Kyung to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. Thursday in ceremonies at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
After the ceremony, Teodoro, a certified pilot, and Air Force chief Lieutenant General Oscar Rabena, will lead pilots in the maiden flight of all 15 planes as an "act of confirmation to the[ir] airworthiness," Zamudio said.
"The arrival of the trainer planes will greatly enhance the operational readiness of the entire Philippine Air Force, especially in training its pilots for the transition to territorial defense mode in 2012 from the current internal security operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Zamudio said.
He said the donation of the aircraft is part of a program to improve the logistics support capabilities of the Korean and Philippine armed forces as provided for in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Logistics and Defense Industry Cooperation both countries signed in May 24, 1994.
"The MOU covers expanded and enhanced logistical cooperation such as procurement, supply, maintenance, and transportation, among others," Zamudio said.
"The bilateral relationship between both Armed Forces also helps the Korean military and defense establishments who regularly send their officers to the National Defense College and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Command and General Staff Course in Camp Aguinaldo," he added.
The latest delivery of the planes is the ninth delivery from Korea to the Philippine military since 1993 with earlier consignments included 16 buses for the Philippine Military Academy, 12 high speed coastal surveillance patrol boats, 10 medium high speed coastal surveillance patrol boats, army field telephones, Kevlar helmets, mobility and engineering equipment and maintenance parts for the boats, Zamudio said.
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