Philippine Air Force radar installation and Philippine fighter jet

During the Cold War in the 1970s up to the 1980s, the PAF Air Defense System together with the American Air Defense assets, regularly performs intercept of the former Soviet Union’s long range reconnaissance bombers the Tupolev Tu-95 “Bear” entering our country’s airspace…

PAF Air Defense Doctrine dictates once an intruder is detected, 5th Fighter Wing Northrop F-5A/Bs Freedom Fighters and Vought F-8H Crusaders will take-off immediately for interception… Skillfully guided by radars and Air Weapons Controllers from the 580th the Aircraft Control and Warning Wing, the fighters heads towards their targets at full throttle…

Effective capability in Air Defense Operations is to vital National Security, as it provides a measure of deterrent to hostile acts… With 24 hour radar monitoring of the airspace and interceptors on ready alert, such operations is an effective and necessary tool for external defense and also for projecting our country’s interests…

From the STORY OF A PAF VETERAN courtesy of PAFAcer Francis Neri PAFFS CL’95