Air Force ends ‘Sanay Sibat’ maneuvers

Photo from AFP-PAF

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots recently completed nearly two weeks of air combat drills using the military’s fighter and attack jets: the Mach 1.5-capable FA-50 and the subsonic SIAI-Marchetti S-211.

PAF spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano said the “Sanay Sibat” exercise was intended to ensure operational readiness among fighter pilots and prepare them for the planned acquisition of more multirole fighter aircraft.

“Sanay Sibat” was held from Feb. 22 to March 5 and was participated in by personnel of the 5th Fighter Wing. Mariano said “Sanay Sibat” was revived in 2018, three years after the PAF acquired the supersonic FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea. The exercise was shelved for 23 years during which time the PAF had no supersonic capability. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE

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