Outgunned Philippine Air Force takes on South China Sea defence

AI Summary

The Philippine Air Force is transitioning from counter-insurgency missions to enhancing its capabilities to defend the contested maritime frontier of the South China Sea. Despite being ranked the weakest air force among Southeast Asia's largest militaries, there is a focus on strengthening air assets due to the archipelagic nature of the country.

For decades, the Philippine Air Force hunted communist rebels and Islamist militants in the country’s forests and southern islands. Now, amid seemingly intractable tensions in the South China Sea, it is being reshaped into an armed service meant to defend one of Asia’s most contested maritime frontiers – even as analysts rank it the weakest air arm among Southeast Asia’s six largest militaries. “Because we are an archipelago, we really need to strengthen our air assets,” air force spokeswoman...