US to provide PAF aircraft with night-vision equipment

Air Force helicopter pilots will be equipped with night vision goggles by the United States to allow them to fly at night for anti-terrorism and search-and-rescue operations.

However, Gen. William Begert, commander of the US Air Force in the Pacific, said it would take three years to provide night vision capabilities for all aircraft of the Philippine Air Force.

"Expect that the US military might provide the night vision equipment that you have requested when the Balikatan joint military exercise is held here February next month," he said.

Lt. Gen. Nestor Santillan, Air Force commander, briefed Begert on the status of the Philippine air power during his visit to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City yesterday.

Begert, former assistant vice chief of staff for headquarters of the USAF in Washington DC, said Huey and Sikorski helicopter gunships should be equipped with night vision capabilities because they are important in combat and rescue operations.

Night vision capabilities not only include goggles, but separate equipment aboard aircraft manned by experts to be able to "see" through night skies, cloud cover, fog, haze and similar adverse weather conditions, he added.

Begert said the C-130 aircraft need not be provided with night vision capabilities because an effective counter-terrorism operation requires specific skills, sophisticated communications equipment, electronic photography, and human intelligence.

It does not need a fleet of bomber aircraft, he added.

Begert said the Philippines needs to consider its ability to handle and maintain modern fighter planes and other war machines.

"If you have more planes, would you have the resources to maintain them," he asked.

Begert, who is on a tour of several Asian countries, is responsible for US Air Force operations and 45,000 troops in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan and South Korea.