Fighter

My entry for this evening is about fighter planes.

They say that for an archipelago like the Philippines, the only way we can able to defend ourselves from foreign invasions is to have a strong air force. Having a strong air force means we could slow down enemy advances before they could make landfall. Since we cannot count on our navy to protect our waters, having an effective air support would at least, in theory, dent the enemy.

During the early sixties, the country could boast having the most advanced fighter squadrons in the whole of South East Asia. In fact, the Indonesians used to train their pilots here upon forming their own air forces.

Now things have changed.

From having supersonic aircraft like this:

Northrop F5
(Retired, 2005)

The entire Philippines is defended by feeble machines like this:

OV10 Bronco
(Donated by the Thai Air Force, 2003)

Only to suffer a tragic fate less than three years after its handover.

Clark Air Base, 2006

Military apparatus say that the country do not require advanced aircraft such as those found elsewhere, for our threats come from within and not from beyond our shores. The hinterlands are overrun with bandits (rebels) and such warfare require a different military doctrine, which means procuring machines like these:

Bell UH-1 Iroquois

Bell 412

C-130 Hercules

But what if they keep on falling off the ground, is there any sense of adding these flying coffins to our hukbo?

I say having a strong military not only deters hostile forces, it gives an impression that our government is never a push-over among diplomatic circles. Knowing that we are at par with our neighbors when it comes to military technology, it becomes a source of national pride.

I remember during the centennial independence celebration in Luneta over a decade ago, a squadron of F5s flypast the parade grounds which was followed by cheers from those who witnessed their barely above-ground passing. Though I maybe a teenager then, my heart spoke of confidence with the government. Coinciding those years, now I believe that we were in a far stable state then than we are today.

I know others would ask why procure such machines when half of the population dies of hunger and sickness. Should we focus our efforts in building our countryside infrastructure and providing better medical care instead of wasting our national budget on these machines? Don't frown, for it is exactly the same argument I have as to why we should keep these thoughts of armament building safely tucked behind our consciousness.

Mikoyan MiG-29
(Russia)

AH-64 Apache

Because as long as these procurements would benefit the pockets of a few; and as long as we don't truly understand the depth and meaning of the word "nationalism;" and as long as the stale, corrupt government of the present remains,

There is no use dreaming of pride-stirring military flypasts.

Until we are finally at peace with ourselves, and have learned to take pride and dignity of our nation,

defending our airspace should be the least of our concern.

For Gripen