PAF shows Super Tucanos with new air-launched munitions

The PAF employs its Embraer EMB-314B (A-29) Super Tucano light aircraft as a close air support (CAS), light attack, surveillance and reconnaissance, air-to-air interception, and counter-insurgency platform. (Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images)

The Philippine Air Force's (PAF's) Embraer EMB-314B Super Tucano turboprop trainer/light attack aircraft have been integrated with new air-to-surface weapons, including BAE Systems' Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS) and Elbit Systems' Lizard 3 laser-guided munition (LGM), according to a photograph released by the service.

The PAF has six EMB-314B aircraft in service with the 15th Strike Wing at Danilo Atienza Air Base in Cavite City. The PAF's Flying School (PAFFS) revealed on 7 December that the Super Tucano fleet had received the new munitions after it published a photograph on its social media handle, showing pilot cadets being briefed by a wing officer on the aircraft's capabilities and weapons.

In addition to the Lizard 3 and the APKWS, the Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems-Elbit Systems Guided Advanced Tactical Rocket (GATR) was also presented at the briefing. The weapons were displayed alongside three Super Tucanos.

Attack pilots from the wing “provided an in-depth overview of the wing's mission and operational capabilities”, the PAFFS said.

The PAF could not be reached for additional information and comment by the time of publication.

Weapon capabilities

BAE Systems' APKWS laser guidance kit transforms unguided 2.75 inch (70 mm) rockets such as the Hydra 70 Mk 66 into precision-guided munitions (PGMs).

The PAF's acquisition of the weapon is based on a September 2019 US Department of Defense (DoD) contract awarded to BAE Systems to produce APKWS II for the US military and nine countries, including the Philippines, under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.