ThePhilippine Air Force (PAF) (Filipino:Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas,lit. 'Air Army of the Philippines') is theaerial warfare service branch of theArmed Forces of the Philippines. Initially formed as part of thePhilippine Army as thePhilippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) in 1935, the PAAC eventually saw combat duringWorld War 2 and was formally separated from the Army in 1947 as a separate service branch of the AFP under Executive Order No. 94. At present, the PAF is responsible for both defending Philippineairspace, and conducting aerial operations throughout thePhilippines, such asclose air support operations,combat air patrols,aerial reconnaissance missions,airlift operations, helicopter tactical operations, special operations, and aerial humanitarian operations, which includes search and rescue operations. The PAF has also carried out various missions within the country and abroad.
The forerunner of the Philippine Air Force was the Philippine Militia, otherwise known as Philippine National Guard (PNG). On March 17, 1917, Senate PresidentManuel L. Quezon enacted a bill (Militia Act 2715) for the creation of the Philippine Militia. It was enacted in anticipation of an outbreak of hostilities betweenUnited States andGermany.[7]
P-26 Peashooter used by the Philippine Air Corps (1941)
By the end ofthe First World War, theUS Army andNavy began selling aircraft and equipment to the Philippine Militia Commission. The Commission then hired the services of theCurtiss Flying School to provide flight training to 33 students at Camp Claudio,Parañaque.
The early aviation unit was, however, still lacking enough knowledge and equipment to be considered as anair force and was then limited only to air transport duties.[7] On January 2, 1935, Philippine Military Aviation was activated when the 10th Congress passed Commonwealth Act 1494 that provided for the organization of the Philippine Constabulary Air Corps (PCAC). PCAC was renamed thePhilippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) in 1936. It started with only three planes in its inventory. In 1941, PAAC had a total of 54 aircraft including pursuit (fighters) light bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, light transport and trainers.[7] They later engaged the Japanese when they invaded the Philippines in 1941–42, and were reformed in 1945 after the country's liberation.
Post-WWII and AFP restructuring
PAF P-51 Mustang
The PAF became a separate military service on July 1, 1947, whenPresidentManuel Roxas issued Executive Order No. 94. This order created thePhilippine Naval Patrol and the Air Force as equal branches of thePhilippine Army and thePhilippine Constabulary under the now Armed Forces of the Philippines[8] becoming Southeast Asia's third air force as a result.
The main aircraft type in the earlier era of the PAF was theP-51 Mustang, flown from 1947 to 1959. Ground attack missions were flown against various insurgent groups, with aircraft hit by ground fire but none shot down. In the 1950s the Mustang was used by the Blue Diamonds aerobatic display team.[9] These would be replaced by the jet-poweredNorth American F-86 Sabres in the late 1950s, assisted byLockheed T-33 Shooting Star andBeechcraft T-34 Mentor trainers.
PBY Catalinaamphibious aircraft used by the Philippine Air Force after independence
1963 Congo Mission and the Limbas Squadron
TheUnited Nations Operation in the Congo would be the first international mission of the Philippine Air Force after PresidentDiosdado Macapagal deployed the 9th Tactical Fighter "Limbas" Squadron to assist the United Nations.
The 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron left for the Congo on 11 February 1963 and conducted flight operations from Kamina Air Base.
Cold War era
Marcos rule and People Power Revolution
A squadron of F-86F Sabre of the Philippine Air Force
When unrest arising from news of theJabidah Massacre duringFerdinand Marcos'first presidential term triggered theMoro conflict in Mindanao and the establishment of theMoro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1972,[10] the PAF was called upon to actively provide air support for the AFP campaign against MNLF in Central Mindanao, aside from doing the airlifting duties for troop movements from Manila and Cebu to the conflict zone. Traditional workhorses like theUH-1H choppers,L-20 “Beaver” aircraft, andC-47 gunships were mainly used in the campaign.
In the same decade, the PAF Self-Reliance Development Group, the forerunner of the Air Force Research and Development Center (AFRDC) was created. The Center enabled the PAF to create prototypes of aircraft aside on going into partnership with the private sector for some of its requirements.[11]
In late 1977, the Philippine government purchased 35 secondhandU.S. NavyF-8Hs that were stored atDavis-Monthan AFB inArizona. Twenty-five of them were refurbished by Vought and the remaining 10 were used for spare parts. As part of the deal, the U.S. would train Philippine pilots in using the TF-8A. They were mostly used for interceptingSoviet bombers. The F-8s were grounded in 1988 and were finally withdrawn from service in 1991 after they were badly damaged by theMount Pinatubo eruption, and have since been offered for sale as scrap.[12]
The PAF played a key part in ending theMarcos dictatorship during the 1986People Power Revolution through the "Sotelo landing" of February 24, 1986. Forces under Defense MinisterJuan Ponce Enrile had planned a coup against Marcos but were discovered early, and, trapped inCamp Aguinaldo, asked the support ofPhilippine Constabulary ChiefFidel Ramos in nearbyCamp Crame. When Roman Catholic CardinalJaime Sin learned about the situation, he called upon Philippine civilians, many of whom were preparing to protest the anomalous results of the1986 Philippine presidential election to form a human barricade around the camps, effectively preventing Marcos' forces from taking the camps in a land assault but leaving the camps vulnerable to attack from the air.[13] After determining that all his men were no longer willing to support Marcos in the aftermath of the election,[14] Col. Antonio Sotelo defected with the entirety of the15th Strike Wing, Philippine Air Force, landing 6S-76 gunships, 2 rescue helicopters, and a utility BC-105 on the grounds of Ramos' headquarters at Camp Crame. Sotelo and his forces then later flew back to Villamor Air Base to disable six remaining UH-1 'Huey' helicopters which Marcos' forces could have used to attack the camps.[15][16] This encouraged even more AFP units to withdraw their support for the dictatorship.[17]
1986–1990 Coup attempts
A Vought F-8H Crusader (ex U.S. Navy BuNo 148649) of the Philippine Air Force in flight.
The following years remained hostile for the Philippines, a series of bloody coup attempts led by then Col.Gregorio Honasan of theReform the Armed Forces Movement, involved thousands of renegade troops, including elite units from thearmy andmarines, in a coordinated series of attacks onMalacanang and several major military camps in Manila and surrounding provinces, includingSangley andVillamor Air Base, using theT-28 aircraft for aerial assaults. PresidentCorazon Aquino found it necessary to requestUnited States support to put down the uprising. As a result, a large US special operations force was formed and namedOperation Classic Resolve, asUSAFF4 fighter aircraft stationed atClark Air Base patrolled above rebel air bases, and two aircraft carriers were positioned off the Philippines. The US operation soon caused the coup to collapse. Additional US forces were then sent to secure theAmerican embassy in Manila. The military uprisings resulted in an estimated US$1.5 billion loss to thePhilippine economy.[citation needed]
US military departure from the Philippines
TheCold War Era has reached its endpoint as tensions between the two ideological rivals, theUnited States and theSoviet Union, have simmered down as a result of the dissolution of the latter and the massive change of political system among its allies.
The fate of the US military bases in the country was greatly affected by these circumstances, and by the catastrophic eruption ofMount Pinatubo in 1991 which engulfed the installations with ash and lahar flows. The nearbyClark Air Base was eventually abandoned afterwards, while thePhilippine Senate voted to reject a new treaty forSubic Naval Complex, its sister American installation inZambales. This occurrence had effectively ended the century-old US military presence in the country, even as PresidentCorazon Aquino tried to extend the lease agreement by calling a national referendum, leaving a security vacuum in the region and terminated the flow of economic and military aid into the Philippines.[18][19]
Contemporary era
AFP modernization efforts and 1997 Asian financial crisis
The importance of territorial defense capability was highlighted in the public eye in 1995 when the AFP published photographs of Chinese structures onMischief Reef in the Spratlys.
Initial attempts to improve the capabilities of theArmed Forces happened when a law was passed in the same year for the sale of redundant military installations and the devotion of 35 percent of the proceeds for AFP upgrades. Subsequently, the legislature passed theAFP Modernization Act.[20] The law sought to modernize the AFP over a 15-year period, with minimum appropriation of 10-billion Pesos per year for the first five years, subject to increase in subsequent years of the program. The modernization fund was to be separate and distinct from the rest of the AFP budget.
However, the1997 Asian financial crisis greatly affected the AFP Modernization Program due to the government's austerity measures.[21]
C-295W of the Philippine Air Force assigned to 220th Airlift Wing of the Air Mobility Command
Several air assets acquired by the Philippine Air Force through the original AFP Modernization Program of 1995 were theAW109 armed scout helicopters, and airlift assets like theAirbus C295 andCASA C212 Aviocar.
Since the retirement of theNorthrop F-5s in September 2005 without a planned replacement, the Philippine Air Force was left without fighter jets. The PAF resorted to theAermacchi S-211 trainer jets to fill the void left by the F-5's. These S-211's were later upgraded to light attack capability and used for air and sea patrol and also performedcounter-insurgency operations from time to time.[citation needed] The only active fixed wing aircraft to fill the roles were theSF-260 trainers with light attack capability, theOV-10 Bronco light attack and reconnaissance aircraft and the AS-211 warriors (upgraded S-211).
South China Sea arbitration case and revised AFP Modernization Program
Reminiscent to what occurred in 1995, the Congress passed theRevised AFP Modernization Act of 2012, which was meant to replace the older AFP Modernization Act of 1995 signed during former PresidentFidel V. Ramos’ term, when its 15-year program effectivity expired in 2010.[23]
In response to regional strategic challenges and perceived internal weaknesses, the PAF has embarked on a transformation process to enhance its capabilities. Flight Plan 2028 is administered by the Air Force Strategy Management Office (AFSMO), and aims to:
Build the PAF capability to detect, identify, intercept and neutralize intrusions in the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone (PADIZ) and theSouth China Sea (to the North and West of thearchipelago) from Area Readiness 4 to Area Readiness 3 by 2022.
Build the PAF capability to detect, identify, intercept and neutralize intrusions into the entire Philippine territory from Area Readiness 3 to Area Readiness 1 by 2028;[25]
The plan calls for a reorienting of the Philippine Air Force from a primarily internal security role to a territorial defence force. It will require substantial organisational, doctrinal, training, strategic and equipment transformation.
In April 2014, theEnhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement was signed by the representatives of the Philippine and US Governments, aimed at bolstering the military alliance of both countries. The agreement allows the United States to rotate troops into the Philippines for extended stays and allows the U.S. to build and operate temporary facilities on Philippine military bases for both American and Philippine forces' use.[26][27]
Both parties agreed to determine the military installations across the Philippines as covered by the pact, including the formerUS Subic Bay Naval Base andClark Air Base, as well as several locations in Cebu, Luzon, and Palawan.[28]
The Philippine Air Force is commanded by theChief of the Air Force, holding the rank ofLieutenant General, and is assisted by the Vice Chief of the Philippine Air Force, and the Chief of Air Staff, in charge of organizational and administrative matters, both holders of the rank ofMajor General. The Philippine Air Force consists of three tactical commands, three support commands, seven air wings including one separate search and rescue wing, one engineering brigade, one air control and warning wing, one air weather group and one special operations unit.
T129B ATAK Helicopter of the Philippine Air Force (PAF)
Tactical Commands and Air Wings
The three Tactical Commands are in the direct control of the PAF Leadership while serving his function in the command chain of the AFP. These units are jointly reactivated and reorganized on July 21, 2017, while effectively replacing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Air Divisions as part of the PAF Flight Plan 2028.[30]
Air Defense Command (ADC),Clark Air Base- responsible for overall air defense, tracking and interdiction of the PAF and the AFP.[31]
5th Fighter Wing,Basa Air Base – it is responsible for fighter operations of the PAF. It replaced the Air Defense Wing after the two were reactivated to their original status in 2017.
6th Tactical Fighter (Cobras) Squadron – reactivated in July 2025.[32]
105th Fighter Training (Blackjacks) Squadron – conducts jet qualification and training for future fighter-bound pilots. Flies theAermacchi AS-211 jet training aircraft.Two PAF'sFA-50PH fighter jets.
Other units:
580th Aircraft Control and Warning Wing,Wallace Air Station – it is responsible for operating air defense and surveillance radar systems, and command and control units of the PAF. It was reactivated on November 3, 2016, after being downgraded to a Group on April 1, 2005.[33]
960th Air and Missile Defense Group- responsible for aerial and missile defense operations of the PAF.[31]
Philippine Air Defense Control Center- the ADC's primary control center unit.[31]
Direct Air Support Force- serves as the ADC's coordination and guidance unit in air support operations.[31]ATR 72-600 MAR of the Philippine Air Force
Air Mobility Command (AMC) - responsible for overall airlifts and aerial transport operations, including helicopter transport, VIP transport, and search and rescue (SAR) operations of the PAF and the AFP.
205th Tactical Helicopter Wing,Benito Ebuen Air Base – It is responsible for conducting tactical helicopter operations and limited air support, in support of the PAF and AFP.[34] The wing flies the Bell UH-1H Huey, Dornier-Bell UH-1D Huey, Bell 412EP, and S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters.
206th Tactical Helicopter (Hornets) Squadron
207th Tactical Helicopter (Stingers) Squadron
208th Tactical Helicopter (Daggers) Squadron
210th Tactical Training Squadron
Support Unit:
450th Maintenance and Support Group
220th Airlift Wing,Benito Ebuen Air Base – It provides tactical airlift operations in support of the AFP. It is also responsible for temporarily conducting long range maritime patrol and air reconnaissance.[35]Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 aircraft at the Villamor Air Base in Manila
Air Combat Command (ACC),Edwin Andrews Air Base - responsible for overall air to ground operations, including attack and ground support operations, and special forces missions.[41]A-29B Super Tucano attack aircraft of the Philippine Air Force during its turn-over and blessing ceremony at Clark Airbase
15th Strike Wing's AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopter of the Philippine Air Force (PAF)15th Strike Wing,Danilo Atienza Air Base – It is responsible for providing combat air support to surface forces of the AFP.[42]
The three Support Commands are in charge for the overall combat, logistics, education, training, doctrine development, reservist management and administrative support in the PAF's operations.
300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing,Antonio Bautista Air Base – responsible for conducting aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, and maritime patrol using air and ground assets.
3032nd Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron – flies theCessna 208B Grand Caravan ISR andTurbo Commander 690A ISR aircraft, also provide ISR equipment operators for SABIR-equipped C-130T Hercules when configured for Maritime Patrol Aircraft missions.
355th Aviation Engineering Wing,Clark Air Base – the unit is tasked to provide general engineering support, including construction, repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of PAF aerodrome facilities and utilities.[43]
900th Air Force Weather Group - It is responsible for weather information, observation, reporting, andcloud seeding operations.
Aerobatic teams
The Philippine Air Force Blue Diamonds "Sabre" emblem on aF-86F Sabre, circa 1962.
The Philippine Air Force had a number of aerobatic teams among which the PAF Blue Diamonds was the first to be founded, and was one of the oldest formal aerobatics teams in the world. The proceeding units listed are at inactive status due to the retirement of their aircraft, most notably theNorthrop F-5 Freedom Fighters.
Blue Diamonds – 5th Fighter Wing, Air Defense Command
The Philippine Air Force has nine major air bases and several radar, communications, and support facilities located throughout the archipelago. Shared facilities with commercial airports being used as detachments by the Tactical Operations Command were not included here.
The Philippine Air Force has made use of its existing equipment to fulfill its mandate while modernization projects are underway. TheRepublic Act No. 7898 declares the policy of the State to modernize the military to a level where it can effectively and fully perform its constitutional mandate to uphold the sovereignty and preserve the patrimony of therepublic.[20] The law, as amended, has set conditions that should be satisfied when the defense department procures major equipment and weapon systems for the air force.
These are acquisition projects of the government that have been signed and awaiting delivery for the modernization of the air force:
The defense department has purchased the RafaelSPYDER defence system for ₱6 billion. One (1) battery plus the associated radar systems, command and control, support vehicles, and ammunition set to be delivered in 2024.[61] It uses theTatra T815-7 truck as its mounted chassis.[62]
Three fixed radar systems and one mobile radar system have been ordered from Japan for air surveillance with a tentative delivery in 2022.[63][64] One system has been commissioned in December 2023,[65] and one mobile radar system was turned over in April 2024.[66]
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Philippine Air Force[44]
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