DND approves acquisition of new transport aircraft

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) approved the acquisition of three C-130J-30 aircraft for the Philippine airforce, the government agency announced on Tuesday.

According to the DND, the transport aircraft will be delivered to the country in July 2026, October 2026 and January 2027.

“The acquisition started in 2021, as part of the Second Horizon of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program. The project was awarded to Lockheed Martin, an American aerospace, arms defense, information security and technology corporation,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

“The addition of the C-130J-30 to the inventory is a significant leap forward in terms of achieving a credible defense posture,” he added.

"The Philippine Air Force expressed gratitude for the new acquisition, recognizing its support to the branch.

“These C130s will surely boost our airlift capability to support military operations and other national development efforts to include relief operations during times of disasters and calamities,” Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, PAF spokesperson told Philstar.com.

The C-130J-30 “Super Hercules,” popularly known as C-130, is a 20,227-kilogram multi-purpose aircraft which have different functions aside from being a transport aircraft for supplies and troops. 

It can serve as a reconnaissance aircraft or even a bomber bomber, as demonstrated by its use in the Argentine Air Force.

For example, the United States military employed it as a close-support aircraft for ground troops, earning it the moniker "Angel of Death."

The aircraft will be produced by the American aerospace company Lockheed Martin Corp.

For a defense expert, the introduction of this new transport aircraft is timely, particularly given the current state of the country's military assets.

However, it might be better for the government to acquire additional transport aircraft to prevent overburdening the military's vehicle resources.

“Kulang talaga ang Philippine military sa mga heavy lift aircraft. They are very important on rapid deployment for government assets or resources to any emergency,” Jose Antonio Custodio, a defense expert said in an