page_title: Philippine Air Force
section_title: AFP modernization efforts and Asian Financial Crisis
hierarchical_section_title: Philippine Air Force / History / Contemporary Era / AFP modernization efforts and Asian Financial Crisis
caption_attribution_description: English: A Philippine Air Force MD-520MG Light Attack Helicopter. Taken during the 2013 Philippine Air Force Static Display at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, Philippines
context_page_description: The Philippine Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Initially formed as part of the Philippine Army, the PAF is responsible for both defending the Philippine Airspace, and conducts close air support, combat air patrols, tactical operations and other aerial operations throughout the Philippines.
  The PAF has an estimated strength of over 16,000 personnel and operates 193 aircraft.
context_section_description: The importance of territorial defense capability was highlighted in the public eye on 1995 when the AFP published photographs of Chinese structures on Mischief Reef in the Spratlys.
  Initial attempts to improve the capabilities of the Armed Forces happened when a law was passed in the same year for the sale of redundant military installations and devote 35 percent of the proceeds for the AFP upgrades. Subsequently, the legislature passed the AFP Modernization Act. The law sought to modernize the AFP over a 15-year period, with minimum appropriation of 10-billion Pesos per year for the first five years, subject to increase in subsequent years of the program. The modernization fund was to be separate and distinct from the rest of the AFP budget.
  However, the Asian Financial Crisis struck the region on 1997. This has greatly affected the AFP Modernization Program due to the government's austerity measures meant to turn the economy around after suffering from losses incurred during the financial crisis. 
  Several air assets acquired by the Philippine Air Force thru the original AFP Modernization Program of 1995 were the AW109 armed scout helicopters, and airlift assets like the Airbus C295 and CASA C212 Aviocar.
caption: The PAF MD-520MG displayed at the Mall of Asia.
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