PAF Fighter Jet Fleet to Join Aerial Exercises with US
04 April 2025
MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Thursday its FA-50PH fleet would take part in aerial exercises with the Americans under "Cope Thunder Philippines 2025-1," scheduled on April 7-18.
In an interview, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo confirmed that the FA-50PH fighter jets would participate in the drills now that the fleet has been placed under operational status after the lifting of its grounding order on March 25.
"That's the plan. Cope Thunder (Philippines 2025-1) will be running from April 7 until the 18th and isa sa mga fleet na magpa-participate is yung FA-50 natin (and one of the fleets that would participate are the FA-50s)," she added.
The opening ceremony for Cope Thunder Philippines 2025-1 is scheduled at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
However, Castillo did not give the exact number of FA-50PH fighter jets that would join the 11-day exercise.
Eleven FA-50PH fighter jets remain in the PAF inventory following the crash of a similar aircraft last month. (PNA)
PAF's grounded fighter jet fleet now operational, mission capable
MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday announced that all its 11 FA-50PH fighter jets are now in "operational status" and "mission capable" following the lifting of the grounding order against the aircraft.
"The PAF's FA-50 fleet has been placed on operational status effective 25 March 2025," PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.
She also said these planes are now flying their assigned missions shortly after the lifting of the grounding order.
"The aircraft are now all airworthy and mission capable," Castillo said.
The grounding order was lifted after inspection of all remaining aircraft found no technical problems with the FA-50PH fleet.
The 11 FA-50PHs were grounded after one with tail number 002 crashed in Bukidnon last month.
Castillo said the PAF is preparing the accident report for the ill-fated aircraft.
"The official report is for finalization," she added.
The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50PH units from South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries for PHP18.9 billion.
These were delivered from 2015 to 2017. The March accident was the first for the type since it was commissioned in PAF service. (PNA)
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