The Philippine Navy recently reorganized its naval aviation in a move that the service claims will enhance its maritime defense capabilities over the country’s waters.
The Naval Air Wing officially transitioned into the Naval Air Warfare Force during a ceremony Oct. 6 at Sangley Point. The move comes ahead of the service’s modernization efforts to bolster its modest naval aviation fleet amid tensions in the South China Sea.
The Naval Air Warfare Force joins other major Philippine Navy commands, including the Offshore Combat Force, Littoral Combat Force and Sealift Amphibious Force.
“Marking the transition from Wing to Force, the occasion highlighted [Naval Air Warfare Force’s] elevated role in maritime defense and its vision of extending the Navy’s horizon in safeguarding our archipelagic nation,” reads a Philippine Navy news release on the reorganization.
Philippine naval aviation is set to receive more dedicated anti-submarine warfare aircraft under a push by the country’s military to strengthen its underwater capabilities. The fleet is primarily composed of old trainer aircraft, transferred Japanese planes repurposed for basic maritime patrol duties, Italian utility helicopters and donated American drones.
Philippine forces have relied on patrols from the service’s turboprops and ScanEagle drones for maritime domain awareness missions over the South China Sea. Chinese fighters have previously buzzed Philippine aircraft operating over contested maritime features, such as Scarborough Shoal.
A 2023 to 2033 modernization roadmap released by the force eyed the procurement of maritime patrol aircraft and additional sub-hunting helicopters to support Manila’s new Korean frigates in anti-submarine operations. Other modernization plans include new sensors, potential unmanned aerial vehicles for extended patrol duties and utility helicopters to support Philippine Marine Corps missions.
According to Naval News, the Philippines is poised to order six AW-159 Wildcat helicopters from Italian defense contractor Leonardo in a $745 million deal. The helicopters are expected to operate from the service’s new Miguel Malvar-class guided missile frigates and Rajah Solayman-class offshore patrol vessels.
The recent shift from a wing to a force command also represents the latest Philippine effort to streamline command and control amid operational concerns in the South China Sea. In April, the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced its intention to create the Strategic Defense Command, which is envisioned to coordinate military exercises and operations with allies such as the United States, Japan and Australia.
The Philippine Navy also revamped its force responsible for operations in the disputed Spratly Islands into a command earlier this year, which officials said was meant to “address dynamic security demands.”
