00:00In the first instance, the Philippines sent fighter jets for the Pitch Black 2024 Multilateral Exercises in Australia.
00:09And live from Darwin, Australia, we have Chino Gaston.
00:15Chino?
00:19Pia, aircrafts and fighter jets are arriving from 21 countries
00:24to be a part of the Pitch Black 2024 Exercises here in Darwin, Australia
00:29including the F-A-50 fighter jets of our country.
00:33This is to enhance our territorial airspace and not just as a preparation to fight in any country.
00:43The newest fighter jets from the UK, Italy, Germany, South Korea, US and many other countries
01:01are participating in the Pitch Black 2024 Multilateral Exercises in Darwin, Australia.
01:07In the past, only observers were sent by the Philippines.
01:12Now, 4 F-A-50 fighter jets and almost 200 support personnel and pilots are sent by our country.
01:20One of the main training that the Interdiction Flights will do
01:24is to greet the unidentified aircrafts that will enter the country's airspace.
01:31The pilots will also join the night flying exercise.
01:34These are more of like the counter air and air interdiction type of exercise.
01:39So all of these have something to do with protection.
01:44According to the Royal Australian Air Force, 21 countries have sent aircrafts this year.
01:50Many of them are supporting the Philippines
01:53because of their right to the West Philippine Sea against China
01:58like the US, Japan, UK, Australia, France and Canada.
02:03But according to the Royal Australian Air Force,
02:05there is nothing to do with the tension between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.
02:13For the current issues or concerns, especially in our region,
02:17this is not directly involved in this issue
02:23because we haven't been doing this exercise for a long time.
02:30This is just a chance for this year, or the iteration of Peach Black 2024,
02:35for us to join our aircrafts.
02:45Pia, this is also a chance for the Philippine Air Force
02:48to see the performance of other models of aircrafts
02:53including the models being studied under the MRF Acquisition Program
02:59which was approved by President Bongbong Marcos.
03:04From Darwin, Australia for GMA Integrated News, Chino Gaston, 24 Hours.
03:11Thank you very much, Chino Gaston.
03:22www.gma.gov.au
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