C-130 plane from US to arrive at end-September

The Philippine Air Force is expecting its fifth Lockheed C-130 plane from the United States at the end of the month.

Air Force spokesperson Col. Araus Robert Musico told reporters on Thursday that the plane will arrive at the end of September but there is no specific date yet.

READ: PH buys 2 C-130 planes from US; due 1st quarter of 2016

“It would increase our capability. This is for rapid deployment capability and for humanitarian assistance and disaster response. We use the C-130 as a platform to transport rescuers, relief goods and equipment to disaster stricken areas,” he said.

The refurbished C-130 is the second of the two planes bought from the US at P1.6 billion through the Excess Defense Articles Program. The first one arrived last April.

The number of C-130 planes in the Air Force inventory will be increased to five after the latest C-130 arrives. Other transport planes of the Air Force are three C-295 airbus and three Fokker F-27. RAM/rga

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