The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States (US) Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) flexed their combined airpower this week with a series of live-fire drills and joint bomber patrols over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and Luzon Strait, ramping up interoperability and readiness amid evolving regional security challenges.
In a statement Saturday, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco said the five-day Bilateral Bomber Air Patrol and Live Drop Exercise, held from 2 to 6 February, brought together Filipino FA-50PH fighter jets and US B-52 strategic bombers in coordinated missions across key locations, including Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base (CERAB) in Tarlac City and contested waters to the west of Luzon.
The drills began with a Live Drop Exercise at CERAB, where FA-50PHs worked alongside the long-range B-52s in simulated strike operations supported by joint planning teams from the US Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) and Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC).
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