PAF: C-130 aircraft acquired from US arrives in PH

A ceremonial water cannon salute welcomes the Philippine Air Force’s newly-acquired C-130H aircraft upon arrival at Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga. (PHOTO FROM THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE)

MANILA, Philippines — The second C-130 plane acquired through the US foreign military financing program arrived in the country, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) announced on Monday.

PAF said the  C-130H bearing tail number 5157 landed at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, on Friday, Feb. 16.

The C-130H aircraft was welcomed with a water salute, a customary tradition when a PAF aircraft joins the service.

In a statement, the PAF said this aircraft “will bolster the PAF’s cargo airlift fleet and support humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations, and various military missions.”

It was built by US aircraft company Lockheed Martin and was flown from Waco, Texas, to the Philippines by US aircrew. 

The first aircraft unit was delivered on Jan. 29, 2021, under the US’ Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Program.

The EDA aims to transfer excess defense equipment to foreign governments or international organizations to modernize America’s partner forces, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defense.

The Philippines will also purchase three additional brand new C-130J-30 Super Hercules from Lockheed Martin, the Department of National Defense (DND) said.

DND said the three C-130 aircraft will be delivered one by one in July and October 2026 and in January 2027.