Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff Romeo Brawner Jr., along with Philippine Air Force chief Lt.Gen. Stephen Parreño and USAF Joint US Military Assistance Group chief Col. Edward Evans, graced the official turnover of the newly delivered Cessna-208B (C-208B) Grand Caravan EX Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Aircraft Nr 5671, on Tuesday at the Clark Airbase in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
The AFP's new air asset is a brand new ISR aircraft granted by the United States government to the Philippines and is intended to strengthen the surveillance capabilities of the Philippine Air Force.
Teodoro said the aircraft will contribute to the country's goal to secure the Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights in its 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
Brawner, meanwhile, said the newly arrived aircraft "will boost" the AFP's capability of patrolling the country's maritime seas.
"Definitely this aircraft will help us, will boost our capability in making sure that we secure our territory and our sovereign rights," said Brawner.
The C-208B will be operated by the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing, specifically its 3032nd Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron under the supervision of 303rd Aerial Reconnaissance Group.
It will augment the PAF's two similar units acquired in 2017.