ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines?The military will have a robust air fleet next year, but in the meantime, the Philippine Air Force has to make do with what is available to perform its job, an Air Force official said Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol, PAF spokesperson, said at least 18 trainer aircraft, eight combat utility helicopters ?and more flying C130 airplanes? will be arriving starting next year.

Okol told reporters during a visit here that one of the C130 planes they were expecting will be coming from the United States.

The PAF is beset by a lack of aircraft. A number of its aircraft have crashed or are currently undergoing maintenance while others havce been grounded due to old age.

Okol said the Air Force expects that the arrival of more aircraft, including C130s, will boost the military?s capability to transport personnel and supplies during combat operations and deal with threats to national security.

While the PAF was optimistic, the Philippine Navy on the other hand said it continues to yearn for assets that could boost its performance.

Rear Adm. Danilo Cortez, acting Navy commander, said they might have two helicopters at the moment but these have been grounded due to problems.

?The Bolköw helicopters that we have are no longer working,? he said.

Cortez cited the importance of helicopters in search-and-rescue operations.

He said they were pinning their hopes for new air assets on the planned modernization for the military.

?Let?s hope that there will be new acquisitions,? Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, Western Mindanao Command chief, said.