One of the four Cessna C-172S trainer aircraft formally handed over to the Philippine Navy on 10 February 2022. (US Embassy in the Philippines)
The Philippine Navy (PN) received four new Cessna 172S Skyhawk trainer aircraft.
The aircraft, which were procured under the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme, were formally received on 10 February, the Philippine Department of National Defence announced.
“These air assets will significantly improve the navy's ability to prepare naval pilots for the crucial task of monitoring and safeguarding our maritime territories and domain”, Secretary of National Defense of Philippines Delfin Lorenzana was quoted as saying during the ceremony.
The turnover, blessing and activation ceremony, which took place at Sangley Point, Cavite, Philippines, was attended by Lorenzana and US Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Heather Variava.
According to the US Embassy in the Philippines, the aircraft first arrived in the Philippines in December 2021 and were reassembled in situ before the ceremony, whereas 24 Philippine servicemen received pilot and mechanic training in Kansas City, the US, between August and September 2021.
The C-172S deal is worth PHP298.1 million (USD5.8 million) and also includes spare parts and integrated logistics support package, the US Embassy said, adding that the programme will conclude with the scheduled delivery of three US-sourced Robinson R44 training helicopters in late 2022.
The embassy did not reveal whether the new helicopters will be for the PN or any other armed service. The PN operates two Robinson R22s and the Philippine Army two R44s in the training role.
Janes assesses that the new Cessnas will first augment and then replace part of the existing utility aircraft fleet in use by the PN Naval Air Wing.
According to Janes World Navies
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