A KC-135 Stratotanker from the United States has arrived in the country, along with an American crisis team, to assist in the ongoing disaster response operations in typhoon-affected areas, the Philippine Air Force confirmed Thursday.

According to PAF Deputy Spokesperson Maj. Joseph Richard Calma, the aircraft is currently stationed in Japan and awaiting departure for the Philippines.

Calma said the KC-135, a U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft that is slightly larger than the PAF’s C-130 transport planes, is will be carrying various relief supplies intended to support the country’s ongoing disaster response efforts.

“As of now, we have information that a KC-135 aircraft from the U.S. is bound for Clark Air Base, bringing in HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response) equipment,” Calma told reporters in an ambush interview. 

The U.S. air asset is scheduled to land at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

However, Calma noted that the exact date and time of the aircraft’s arrival in the country have yet to be confirmed.

“As of now, what we know is its mission is to bring in HADR equipment,” he said. 

While the primary mission of the KC-135 is to deliver HADR equipment, Calma emphasized that any extended role the aircraft may play in logistics support has not yet been confirmed. 

“If it will stay, the Philippine Air Force welcomes the support of our U.S. counterparts,” he said. 

The U.S.-operated KC-135 is also equipped to transport both litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.

Over 40 PAF air assets on standby

Calma also outlined the current state of the PAF's operational readiness, noting that more than 40 air assets are on standby to support ongoing and future relief operations to mitigate the impacts of the severe weather disturbance. 

Among these air assets include a Sokol helicopter already prepositioned at Clark Air Base; S-70i Black Hawk helicopters on standby alert at Basa Air Base, ready for immediate evacuation missions; C-130 and C-295 aircraft for transporting large volumes of relief goods; Light lift aircraft such as the Nomad and NC-212i for hard-to-reach areas; as well as rotary wing assets (helicopters) for operations where fixed-wing aircraft cannot be used. 

“These are all ready to respond,” said Calma. “Naka-ready na sila in case na kailangan na silang lumipad.”

The arrival of U.S. air asset with HADR equipment comes after the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has committed to sending a crisis action team in response to the ongoing impact of recent typhoons.