This week, Philippine naval aviation unveiled its aerial ambitions as the force celebrated its 76th founding anniversary. According to a special release by the force’s publication, the Philippine Navy’s Naval Air Wing plans to procure maritime patrol aircraft, more anti-submarine warfare helicopters, and even unmanned combat aerial vehicles.
Like the rest of the service, the Naval Air Wing has lagged in modernizing its capabilities even in the face of the country’s increasingly difficult security situation. However, in light of recent events, the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a whole are looking to bolster their forces with new assets to address these concerns in the third phase of Manila’s military modernization program from 2023-2028. A greater focus is being put on maritime and aerial capabilities, as seen with the Air Force’s procurement of Long-Range Patrol Aircraft and the Philippine Navy’s incoming BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles.
In a special anniversary edition of The Flight Log, the Naval Air Wing’s official publication, the service is working on at least 10 projects ranging from upgrades of existing assets, training simulators, and finally the procurement of new aircraft. Timelines for the projects span from 2025 to 2033 at the earliest date of implementation. Of the 10 planned projects, around half have ISR and Maritime Domain Awareness applications.
In the near term, by 2025 the Naval Air Wing seeks to begin firepower upgrades on their existing AgustaWestland AW109 helicopters, the procurement of R44 training helicopters, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance upgrades on Japanese-donated Beechcraft King Air TC-90s. The former Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force TC-90s were previously donated to the Philippine Navy in 2018, with a total of five delivered since then. These planned ISR upgrades, which seem to add an EO/IR camera system to the TC-90s, are described by the Naval Air Wing as a “significant milestone” that demonstrates their commitment to strengthening the Philippine Navy’s maritime security capabilities.
In 2026 under a postponed Horizon 2 project, which was originally supposed to be done between 2018-2022, the service plans to induct an additional six anti-submarine warfare helicopters. The Naval Air Wing currently operates two Leonardo AW159 Wildcat helicopters assigned to each of the fleet’s Jose Rizal-class frigates. In June, the Wildcat held its first operational deployment during a West Philippine Sea patrol onboard BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151). Intentions to procure more ASW helicopters were heard earlier last year after the Philippine Navy ordered two corvettes, which despite the naming designation are actually set to be larger than the existing frigates at 3,100 tons compared to the Jose Rizal’s 2,600 tons.
While the type of helicopter at this moment is unknown, the logical choice for the Naval Air Wing is to go with additional Wildcats because of their experience with the platform. However, the possibility of American options also stands due to the Sector Security Assistance Roadmap, an upcoming U.S. military assistance package that aims to enhance Manila’s military capabilities over a 5-10 year period via the delivery of “priority defense platforms.”
Regardless of what is chosen, the numbers that are planned will greatly benefit the service’s existing fleet. With only two helicopters, the platforms are being stretched without respite. But with a fleet of eight, the service can now afford to rotate pilots and helicopters between maintenance, training, and deployment cycles, creating a more sustainable force.
By 2027, Seaplanes and Anti-Submarine Fixed Wing Maritime Patrol Aircraft are slated to enter Philippine naval aviation.
The Multi-Purpose Amphibian Aircraft, also another pushed-back Horizon 2 project, represents a return to seaplanes for the country, which previously operated HU-16 Albatross flying boats under the Philippine Air Force. It should be noted that most conceptual graphics of the Multi-Purpose Amphibian Aircraft display a float plane instead of a flying boat design traditionally seen in most military seaplanes, such as the Japanese ShinMaywa US-2. The Naval Air Wing highlighted the “myriad of possibilities” in missions that this asset unveils, from surveillance patrols to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
Among the listed projects, the most ambitious would be the delivery of a dedicated Maritime Patrol Aircraft with ASW capabilities by 2027. The current plans aim for three of these aircraft to be delivered to the force in 2027 and 2033. From the text used in the publication, these Maritime Patrol Aircraft are to supplement the Jose Rizal-class frigates, as well as other large Philippine Fleet surface combatants, in ASW and broader ISR duties. It should be noted that the Philippine Air Force has a Long-Range Patrol Aircraft project underway, although it is unknown if those aircraft have ASW capabilities or will be used in roles outside of ISR.
Lastly, the force listed three projects without a timeline. These include the transfer of eight Beechcraft C12 Hurons from the United States, Amphibious Helicopter Medium, and UCAVs.
Discussions between the U.S. and the Philippines on the transfer of Hurons gained significant traction in 2021, with the Philippine Navy reporting its interest in acquiring eight and the U.S. offering up to 13 of the aircraft. The Philippines has also previously sent teams to inspect the aircraft, which were mothballed in the U.S. Notably, this publication states that these Hurons would be transferred through the U.S.-Philippines Sector Security Assistance Roadmap.
Amphibious Helicopter Medium appears to be a general utility helicopter, with the graphic depicting an American SH-60 Seahawk. AW109s currently act as the fleet’s main utility helicopter, providing medical evacuation and general transport duties to the patrol ships and frigates they serve. Moreover, the Philippine Marine Corps is also in need of helicopters to transport its new heliborne-capable companies, which Amphious Helicopter Medium can provide.
Stated as “in the pipeline,” UCAVs are not an entirely foreign concept to the Philippine Navy due to their experience in operating with similar unmanned systems from the Philippine Air Force and its fleet of 12-13 Hermes drones. Moreover, personnel from the Naval Air Wing were seen examining U.S. Marine Corps MQ-9A Reaper UCAVs in Hawaii during the summer. Philippine forces also receive information from American unmanned systems during exercises, as seen in Balikatan 2023’s Sinking Exercise.
