Beefing up the country's air assets continues as the Philippines is set to acquire three new C-130 transport aircraft, the Department of National Defense said on Tuesday.

The DND issued a Notice to Proceed for the acquisition of the three Super Hercules aircraft for the Philippine Air Force.

DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the acquisition started in 2021 under the Second Horizon of the Armed Forces of the Philippine Modernization Program.

Andolong said the project was awarded to Lockheed Martin, an American aerospace, arms defense, information security, and technology corporation.

Flexibility assured

"The additional cargo space of the C-130J-30, coupled with the reliability of the C-130 aircraft we have in our current fleet, will provide our Air Force with greater operational flexibility," he said.

The new air assets will be delivered in July 2026, October 2026, and January 2027.

"The features will empower our PAF to meet the demands of the AFP's tactical missions more effectively," Andolong said.

The PAF is currently operating with mixed fleets of C-130s — which are vital to supporting AFP humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and military operations.

"The addition of the C-130J-30 to the inventory is a significant leap forward in achieving a credible defense posture," Andolong said.