United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg on Monday said there are two C-130 planes anticipated to be delivered in the country in the first quarter of 2016.
“We help support Philippine modernization through excess defense articles, there are two more C-130s in the pipeline,” Goldberg said during the turnover and commissioning of eight brand new Bell-412EPs and two attack versions of AgustaWestland AW-109E.
Goldberg added that US government also supports the Philippine military modernization through its foreign military funding which was fixed at $50 million in 2014.
With the anticipated mission-ready C-130s from the US, the Philippine Air Force will expand its number and capacity of existing medium lift aircraft.
There will be five mission-ready C-130s by 2016 with a total budget projected at about $55 million.
The aircraft is designed to provide significant airlift capabilities to unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, perfect for transporting military personnel and for relief operation purposes during calamities.
we need something with missiles, rockets and cannons to defend against the aggressor; not a shuttle service for military personnel which is what this thing will be put to use for.
A c130 is still being used by the United States to transport tanks being parachuted out from these planes, paratroopers such as army and special forces uses these planes and are usually escorted with fighter jets. Yes we need more fighter jets but this c130 will hell deploy soldiers on the ground and also used as a transport supply of natural disaster.