Gov’t buying G-280 for PAF

October 7, 2019

The Philippine government is set to acquire a Gulfstream G-280 aircraft for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The aircraft procurement was announced by the Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. last Wednesday.

“Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced the Philippine Air Force has established a contract through the United States government to purchase a Gulfstream G-280™ as well as parts, tooling and contractor logistics support,” Gulfstream stated in a new release issued on Oct. 2, 2019.

In an interview with reporters, Department of National Defense (DND) public affairs service chief Arsenio Andolong said the G-280 will be acquired through  foreign military sales.

“The G-280 falls under the foreign military sale which is our usual mode if a platform is being purchased or acquired from the United States,” he said.

“As far as I know, the status of the procurement of the C-295 command and control aircraft and G-280 are in the contract implementation phase. In fact, the C-295 is set to be delivered within the year and the G-280 will be delivered sometime next year in about August,” he added.

According to the DND, the aircraft cost a total of $36,999,916 while the approved budget for the contract is two billion pesos.

The DND said the purchase of the G-280 aircraft was approved by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on November 29, 2018.

Andolong said unlike the C-295, the G-280 aircraft can land in a shorter runway.

“Both aircraft will perform the functions of command control mentioned a while ago. The C-295 has a longer range. It's suitable for maritime patrol missions as well as for transporting supplies troops and the G-28, although it's smaller does not carry as much personnel,'' added Andolong.

''It flies faster than the C-295 and the G-028  will primarily serve as platform to carry our senior leaders and commanders in the event of example crisis situation it can be used by the Chief of Staff, Secretary of National Defense snd, our major service commanders and the President. Although you want to use the term lightly or loosely. it is similar to an airborne command post it would serve that purpose,'' he said.

Andolong said the purpose to the aircraft is for command and control.

''Admittedly it's a little well more appointed than your average aircraft but it will carry senior leaders. Of course it's designed to be a little more comfortable but like what I said a while ago its premium is its speed, capability to land on short runways which cannot be done by our other aircraft at the moment. For example, the C-295 will not be able to land on small runways,” he said.

According to Gulfstream the “G-280 has a maximum range of 3,600 nautical miles/6,667 kilometers at its long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.80 and a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.84.”

“The aircraft can fly eight hours nonstop and can connect Dubai to Hong Kong; Singapore to Melbourne, Australia; or Singapore to Dubai,” it stated. Robina Asido/DMS