Philippine Defense Forces

[Skyblade]

[QUOTE=bustero]...but the forumer's are mostly uncivilized.../QUOTE]
Amen on that!

[Sou-jiro]

grabe na............kawawa na talaga Pinas....its so unfair...

[kiretoce]

Sixth Phase of Southeast Asia Exercise Series Underway
By Chief Journalist Melinda Larson, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1 Public Affairs
Story Number: NNS050816-01 Release Date: 8/16/2005 11:45:00 AM

SUBIC BAY, Philippines (NNS) -- The sixth and final phase of the 2005 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series is underway here following an Aug. 16 ceremony that marked an official start to a weeklong series of events ashore and at sea focused on increasing maritime interdiction capabilities of the U.S. and Philippine navies.

Nearly 2,000 personnel from the armed forces of both nations and nine ships are taking part in the exercise.

In its 11th year, CARAT is an annual series of bilateral military training exercises with several Southeast Asia nations, designed to enhance the interoperability of the countries' respective sea services in a variety of mission areas that are mutually beneficial. This year’s CARAT series focuses on the development of skills useful in tackling maritime threats.

“These threats include maritime piracy and armed robbery, as well as maritime terrorism and transnational crimes committed at sea," said Commander, Task Force 712, Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn, the executive agent for CARAT, during remarks at the opening ceremony in the Subic Arts Center. "This year’s edition of CARAT gives our two navies a great opportunity to practice some critical skills that can be applied to tackling those threats.

”Those skills important to building operational confidence between the U.S. Navy and the Philippine Navy (PN) include sharing maritime security skill sets, such as how to board a suspected rogue ship, question its crew, and search for contraband.

“Piracy and sea robbery tend to be focused in this region of the world,” Quinn told the media following the opening ceremony. “Having the ability to work together to counteract those threats is very important.”

Acting on threats together means working jointly in nearly every shipboard environment, including communications, at-sea maneuvering, and command and control. Air and amphibious operations are also a part of the training mix.

“All of our exercise events are designed to create as much interaction as possible between our Sailors and Marines,” Quinn said. “The only way two navies can operate efficiently together at sea is through a common set of procedures and through good communications.”

Key to every level of operations is communications, Quinn emphasized, noting that will be possible between both navies via the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS). The real-time communications asset promotes joint situational awareness and allows information to be shared securely.

One of many highlights of the weeklong exercise includes an amphibious landing. More than 150 Philippine Marines will embark USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) to conduct a landing with landing craft, air-cushion (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit 5, Det. Western Pacific Alpha, currently assigned to the ship.

“Basically a navy-to-navy exercise, CARAT specifically involves combined naval tactical operations involving fleet forces by deploying and employing naval surface, air, special operations groups and Marine forces of the U.S. and the Philippines,” Commander, Philippine Fleet, Rear Adm. Alfredo Abueg Jr. said during his opening remarks. “This exercise is a very strategic and operative venue in which our Sailors and Marines train cross-culturally with those of the U.S. Navy.”

Pierside boardings will prepare combined USN/PN boarding teams for a realistic at-sea boarding exercise.

Divers will hone their skills during combined diving and salvage exercises.

“Our Sailors must be well trained in the various skills that form the foundation of their professional knowledge,” Quinn said. “CARAT adds extra value to these efforts because our forces train together and learn from each other.” Sailors will also interact with members of the local community through a series of medical/dental and engineering civic action projects in the surrounding area. In addition, Sailors will perform handiwork and spend time with students at several schools in nearby Olongapo.

“The interface between our people is a true hallmark of CARAT and one of the most important aspects of the exercise,” Quinn said.

Capt. Buzz Little, commander, Destroyer Squadron 1 and the CARAT task group will lead the combined USN/PN CARAT task group, along with his PN counterpart, Commodore Octavio Pabuayon.

The U.S. CARAT task group is made of up of the dock landing ship Harpers Ferry, the frigate USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60), the guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) and the rescue and salvage ship USS Safeguard (ARS 50).

Other elements, including P-3C Orion and SH-60 Seahawk aircraft, U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, based in Port Huenemme, Calif., LCACs, a U.S. Coast Guard training team, and U.S. Army veterinarians will also take part in CARAT Philippines.

Philippine CARAT assets include the patrol ships BRP Rizal (PS74), BRP Emelio Jacinto (PS35), the landing ship vessel BRP Bacolod City (LC550), and the two patrol gunboats BRP Hilario Ruiz (PG378) and BRP Timoteo Figoracion (PG389). Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, two Naval Special Operations Groups, and the 1st Marine Battalion will be involved with the exercise.

Little’s staff, currently embarked aboard Harpers Ferry, is based in San Diego. Paul Hamilton is homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Rodney M. Davis in Everett, Wash. Harpers Ferry and Safeguard are forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan.

For more on CARAT, visit www.clwp.navy.mil/carat2005.

[OtAkAw]

My analogy on country's military is to animal size
US Military= BLUE WHALE
UK Military= ELEPHANT
Philippine military= PROTOZOAN BACTERIA(plankton perhaps)

[Virtute]

Originally Posted by OtAkAw

My analogy on country's military is to animal size
US Military= BLUE WHALE
UK Military= ELEPHANT
Philippine military= PROTOZOAN BACTERIA(plankton perhaps)

I have a cousin who was a PMA graduate and was a Captain, fought the muslims in the 1970's, has some harrowing stories of his experiences in Mindanao. He told me recently that the Philippine Air Force would last 2 minutes. I thought probably! Now I believe he wasn't kidding at all!

[renell]

@Skyblade, haven't been to Opus' for a damn long time. I remember Phils defense was one of my original interests back in Brussels, along with SSC. Then it kinda got boring, talking and talking but not a lot actually happening in the real thing, unlike skyscrapers.

[sandrn]

Masaya na rin ako at nakaganti na rin kahit papano ang mga Pinoys.

Pinauusukan na ang bansa sa ilalim ng Pinas na nagsisimulas sa m. Ngayon nakatikim sila ng Manna.

Para na silang pinausukang manok. sige pa babang at magpa-usok pa.

[Skyblade]

Originally Posted by Virtute

I have a cousin who was a PMA graduate and was a Captain, fought the muslims in the 1970's, has some harrowing stories of his experiences in Mindanao. He told me recently that the Philippine Air Force would last 2 minutes. I thought probably! Now I believe he wasn't kidding at all!

Indeed the stories from those that experienced the Muslim insurgency at its height are really intense. My dad was also an officer with the PA in the 70s and also experienced combat in Mindanao as wel.

PAF-wise, heck I'd be satisfied if PAF survive 30 seconds considering that the F-5s never got any structural upgrades which wouldn't make it viable for dogfighting and the AIM-9 Sidewinders are seriously old (B models) and can easily be distracted by chaffs launched by OpFor aircraft. Air defense-wise, sure there's a couple of 40mm Bofors the Marines have for anti-air and the only SAMs that is in AFP inventory are earmarked for the defense of Malacanang.

Hard to believe that this was the same PAF that actually sent F-86s to Africa to help the UN in the Congo...

Originally Posted by renell

@Skyblade, haven't been to Opus' for a damn long time. I remember Phils defense was one of my original interests back in Brussels, along with SSC. Then it kinda got boring, talking and talking but not a lot actually happening in the real thing, unlike skyscrapers.

Yeah I remember you in the heydays of Opu's forum. You haven't been missing much since it's been down for quite a while. :\

[Virtute]

Originally Posted by Skyblade

Indeed the stories from those that experienced the Muslim insurgency at its height are really intense. My dad was also an officer with the PA in the 70s and also experienced combat in Mindanao as wel.

PAF-wise, heck I'd be satisfied if PAF survive 30 seconds considering that the F-5s never got any structural upgrades which wouldn't make it viable for dogfighting and the AIM-9 Sidewinders are seriously old (B models) and can easily be distracted by chaffs launched by OpFor aircraft. Air defense-wise, sure there's a couple of 40mm Bofors the Marines have for anti-air and the only SAMs that is in AFP inventory are earmarked for the defense of Malacanang.

Hard to believe that this was the same PAF that actually sent F-86s to Africa to help the UN in the Congo...

Yeah I remember you in the heydays of Opu's forum. You haven't been missing much since it's been down for quite a while. :\

It's pretty sad. Oddly enough my uncle (mom's first cousin) flew the F-86 sabrejets of the PAF in the early 60's. He also won the gunnery marksmanship award here in the US while on training. He and his wingman actually buzzed my grandma's house in Miagao a few times. My grandma on the balcony was waving my sister's white baby blanket so tito Rem could see it. I guess the 60's was the best for the PAF.

[Lili]

Why is this in the Samahan forum? Shouldn't it be in the Development forum?

[Skyblade]

Originally Posted by Virtute

It's pretty sad. Oddly enough my uncle (mom's first cousin) flew the F-86 sabrejets of the PAF in the early 60's. He also won the gunnery marksmanship award here in the US while on training. He and his wingman actually buzzed my grandma's house in Miagao a few times. My grandma on the balcony was waving my sister's white baby blanket so tito Rem could see it. I guess the 60's was the best for the PAF.

F-86s doing a flyby over Miagao!? Aw man I would've loved to have been your uncle's wingman! It'd be an awesome sight to overfly the Santo Tomas church! I wonder if my mom ever got to see those flybys as well since she and her family lives in Miagao as well.

Originally Posted by Lili

Why is this in the Samahan forum? Shouldn't it be in the Development forum?

I dunno but so far this thread has been going around here in Samahan ever since. >>;;

[renell]

Originally Posted by Lili

Why is this in the Samahan forum? Shouldn't it be in the Development forum?

I'd love to if the AFP was developing. It's not really is it?

Masaya na rin ako at nakaganti na rin kahit papano ang mga Pinoys.

Please, is this relevant?

[Lili]

Haha. Good response to my question, Renell.

[Solblanc]

It would be nice if we were like the swiss and do away with the military entirely, but sadly, it'll take a lot to clog that budget sinkhole.

[Skyblade]

Philippines to decommission last fighter jet
09/29 3:32:52 PM

MANILA (AFP) - The Philippines will decommission the last of its 40-year-old F-5 fighter jets, leaving the country without any aerial defense aircraft, an air force spokesman said Thursday.

Ceremonies for the decommissioning of the US-made "Freedom Fighter" jets will be held in Basa airbase on Saturday, marking the last use of these aircraft.

Only about five F-5s are still operational, Major Augusto dela Pena said.

Because of lack of funds, "for the next six years, acquisition of new fighters are not on the drawing board," said dela Pena.

In the meantime, the air force will use about five Italian-made S211 trainer jets to serve as makeshift air defense aircraft even though they are not designed or equipped to be fighters, dela Pena added.

"These are the trade-offs we have to accept because of our defense priorities," he said, remarking that internal security was the biggest concern of the Philippine military.

The Philippines is battling both communist guerrillas in the hinterlands as well as various Muslim extremist groups in the south.

The Philippines acquired about 37 F-5 jets from its main ally, the United States, in 1965. But many of the jets were later grounded, and the remaining aircraft are too expensive to maintain and repair, the major said.

In the past decade, several F-5s were provided second-hand from South Korea but these have also become too old to continue flying.

---

Well, all things must come to an end... The F-5 did serve PAF well and it's a retirement well deserved...

[kiretoce]

So sad....

[ryanr]

So we have no jets to protect our airspace...sounds uhhh good.

[Lili]

^ What about those 40-year old fighter planes being sold to the Philippines for $100.00 each? (see page 5) So I guess that "deal" did not push through. Which is better no planes or pathetic old planes?

[ryanr]

^ I'd say no planes...coz with pathetic old planes, they could crash and kill pilots. At least with no planes, pilots are safe on the ground.

[Lili]

^ Agree. No waste of lives and money.