Philippine Air Force, US Pacific Air Forces carry out joint training over WPS

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States Pacific Air Force (PACAF) held bilateral training exercises over the West Philippine Sea on February 4, 2025.

The exercises were air patrol and air intercept training, aimed to enhance operational coordination, improve air domain awareness, and reinforce agile combat employment capabilities between the two air forces, the PAF said.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Philippine Air Force (@philairforce)

The exercises involved three PAF FA-50s alongside two U.S. PACAF B-1 aircraft.

A PAF spokesperson told local media that the exercises are a “crucial step in enhancing interoperability” of both the PAF and PACAF’s bilateral air objectives.

“By conducting these exercises, both air forces refined their tactical and operational strategies while working to meet shared air defense objectives and operational goals,” the PAF said in a Facebook post.

Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated in the past year over maritime and territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, which China claims to be part of the South China Sea.The Philippines is one of the United States’ oldest Asian partners and a strategically major non-NATO ally. Since 1951, the countries have been formally bound in a mutual defense treaty.

A January 2025 report by Voice of America stated that new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the United States’ commitment to the Philippines over China’s “dangerous” actions and demonstrations. The post Philippine Air Force, US Pacific Air Forces carry out joint training over WPS appeared first on AeroTime.

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