US, PH fighter jets to join air combat maneuver drills

MANILA – Philippine Air Force (PAF) FA-50PH jet fighter pilots will have the opportunity to practice “air combat maneuvering” (ACM) tactics with American F-16 fighter pilots during the “Bilateral Air Contingent Exchange (BACE)-Philippines which will be held March 14 to 25.

PAF spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano made this remark when asked by the Philippine News Agency Monday whether the two-week maneuvers will feature “ACM” between the Mach 1.5 capable FA-50PHs and the participating F-16s from the United States Air Force 13th Squadron.

“Yes, but this time it’s going to be a large force against a large force,” he said.

Asked to clarify how many PAF and USAF aircraft will be participating in these ACM drills, Mariano said that it will be four FA-50PHs versus four F-16s.

“Four on four. This is to stimulate a large force and for safety reasons,” he added.

Previous iterations of the BACE-P have previously conducted three similar maneuvers but on a smaller scale.

Twelve US F-16s will be participating in this year’s BACE-P while 10 FA-50PHs from the PAF’s 5th Fighter Wing.

The American aircraft arrived in the country last March 12.

ACM refers to the “tactical art of moving, turning and/or situating one’s fighter aircraft in order to attain a position from which an attack can be made on another aircraft.”

It relies on offensive and defensive basic fighter maneuvering to gain an advantage over an aerial opponent.

Mariano said that the exercise will also allow or feature “simulated guns and missile kills” among opposing American and Filipino aircraft.

He added that the ACM drills will be conducted over the northwestern part of Central Luzon.

“It will be held in Intensive Military Training Area 1 and 2 (and this is over) northwest of Central Luzon,” the PAF spokesperson said.

Also, Mariano said this year’s BACE-P will feature Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) on how to use and defend against surface-to-air missiles (SAM) systems.

“This will be a SMEE — more on a lecture type and procedures on what to do on how to defend against, (and) also to employ (SAM systems),” he added.

Earlier, the PAF said it will be participating in the 10th iteration of the BACE-P which that will be executed at Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga; Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga; Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base, Capas, Tarlac; and in Wallace Air Station in San Fernando La Union.

The exercise will focus on a wide range of mission sets such as air-to-air engagement, base defense; air traffic navigations and integration coordination; air battle management, air defense command, and control operations; radar and radio operations; and surface-to air-missile operation and deployment planning.