9/11 and the Philippines After the September 11th terrorist attack, the USA decided to become directly involved in the fighting against the Islamic extremists on the Philippines, and Manila granted permission for temporary deployment – permanent stationing of US troops would be against the local laws – of up to 1.000 US “advisors” to the Philippines. The ASG, namely, had certainly links of some kind to Osama Ibn Lade and his al-Qaida network, then already in 1992 the Philippino security services have arrested several Pakistani-trained terrorists that planned to execute exactly the type of attack as done on 9/11. During the 1990s the MNLF reportedly received 3 million dollars from Bin Laden. The US support for the Philippines came in the form of money, cascaded-down equipment and training. The US Special Forces advisors in the Philippines are not allowed to attack the ASG but are allowed to return fire if fired upon, and are supported by US Army and Air Force MH-60s, MH-47s and C-130s, while the Americans also provided the Philippine armed forces around $100 million worth in equipment, including eight UH-1Hs, a C-130B, night-vision goggles (NVGs), small arms, mortars, and communication equipment. Much of the joint training between American and Filipino forces has taken place in the actual combat zones. The US support definitely rejuvenated the PhAF and PhA’s capabilities to track-down and combat the ASG, as well as other Moro rebel factions. Already during a clash with the ASG in October 2001 the Marines claimed to have killed 38 terrorists, while suffering one killed and nine injured. As described above, 19 November 2001 marked the new start of the fighting against the MNLF. This force is now under command of Nur Misuari, who was under investigation for graft and stealing public funds. The outbreak of the fighting was caused by Misuari’s fighters ambushing and killing 20 PhA troops. The rebels reportedly have lost a dozen of fighters in the same clash, and this new uprising failed to gain any widespread support. Quite on the contrary, the MNLF was soon to find itself on the receiving end of a series of strikes flown by all available PhAF assets starting in the late 2001. The then commander of the PhA Southern Comman reported that even the F-5As would be participating in these missions, but only the OV-10s, MD-520s and SF-260s were eventually used. Nevertheless, the uprising was broken and Misuari captured in Malaysia, while attempting to reach Sabah. He was turned over to the Philippino government in January 2002. By February 2002 there were first reports about the US Army MH-47E helicopters undertaking night patrols over the war zone in assistance of the Philippino armed forces. Tragically, on 22 February one MH-47 crashed into the sea, killing ten. In March two US Army MH-60s rescued an ambushed patrol of PhA troops and took defensive actions after being fired on by the ASG. There were also reports that USN P-3 maritime patrol planes flew in support of PhAF and PN operations. On 22 March American medics flew in on PhAF UH-1Hs to pull-out seven Philippino Scout Rangers wounded in a firelight. In September 2002 MD-520s were called in to support the 1st Marine Battalion during a pursuit of an ASG band that took hostages. During the ensuing fighting nine Marines and 17 terrorists were killed. But, the Army and Marines destroyed one camp after the other, keeping the ASG permanently on the run with the help of C-130s that were used to keep the flow of supplies. The tempo of operations is permanently increasing ever since. During joint exercises with the US military, in May 2002, two F-5As, a single S-211, UH-1H and C-130 each flew alongside three MH-47s and two US F/A-18Ds. Tragedy struck, however, when one of the F-5As crashed into a school killing the pilot Captain Daniel Policarpio and injuring five civilians on the ground. After this accident the PhAF was down to eight surviving F-5A/Bs and grounded them all. Recently the USA should have supplied spare parts for them and started refresher training for PhAF pilots, as well as to train them in the techniques of night-combat. The cooperation with the USA paid off immensely. The newly formed Light Reaction Company (LRC) of the PhA, created to free hostages and hunt the ASG terrorists down, began to have successes. The unit received training from American Special Forces along with top of the line night vision equipment, new rifles and machine guns as well as body armour. During the operations in 2002 to rescue the Burnham family and Mrs. Yap helicopters were used to track the rebels and the LRC was flown into the theatre by a C-130 transport to replace the Marines who established the initial track on the ASF. The UH-1Hs, covered by MD-520s, then dropped several LRC-teams and these began the hot-pursuit, supported by USAF MH-47Es that deployed fresh troops into the area, which helped keep the terrorists permanently on the run. The all-weather operational capability MH-47Es was important for evacuating injured as the weather got bad and the UH-1Hs could not operate safely. The LRC had a rough start however as during the operation to free the Burnham family they could not take part: there were no helicopters available to support them, and they were a several-days-march away. That left the Scout Rangers to try and pull off the rescue. In the resulting firefight two hostages were killed and one wounded. Despite the bad weather an PhAF UH-1H then evacuated the wounded Mrs. Burnham out of the area: seven ASG terrorists survived the clash and were on the run, but the LRC was on their trail. Indeed, a revenge on the ASG was not long in coming: on 21 June 2002 Abu Sabaya was caught by an USN P-3C while underway with a speedboat. The Americans instantly called in the Philippine naval special warfare unit and this cached the terrorists in the Sibuco Bay. During the ensuing fire-fight his boat was rammed by the speedboats of the Philippine Navy: Sabaya was killed and four terrorists captured. Regardless how successful, this operation showed once again the weaknesses of the PhAF: there were not even enough helicopters to cover the huge area in the south of the country, not to talk about the fact that it had to be a USN patrol aircraft that detected and tracked the terrorist speedboat: the PhAF has no similar capability like that of the USN P-3C Orions. Thanks to the US support, however, the pursuit of the terrorist was continued relentlessly. Deploying more Marines, Scout Rangers and the LRC, the Philippinos put the remnants of the ASG under even more pressure. The MD.520s flew strikes against suspected camps in the Patikul area, and by August it was claimed that the LRC alone had no less but 50 fire fights with the ASG in the recent months, suffering only two troops injured in exchange for several killed terrorists. The unit raided even a house in Sulu, suspected of housing the new ASG-leader, “Commander Robot”, in early September. Already on 12 September the RLC was again on a pursuit, intercepting a band of ASG terrorists that were holding several Indonesia and Philippino hostages: during the first firelight one Philippino soldier and two terrorists were killed. Meanwhile, the Marines – supported by two MD.520s – attempted to set up an ambush, but run into a group of 100 terrorists: nine soldiers and 17 bandits were killed. During additional battles in October seven PhA troops were killed, but the Philippinos and their US advisors kept the pressure, striking the ASG at every opportunity, also with PhAF helicopters and artillery. By the end of 2002 the 15th Strike Wing PhAF had a total of 18 MD.520s, eight OV-10s and seven SF.260s in service, as well as approximately up to 60 UH-1Hs, which were used extensively for transporting troops and supporting them with machine-gun fire, even if the later role was meanwhile foremost taken over by the MD.520s. Armed with gun-pods and rocket launchers, MD.520s of the 15th Strike Wing PhAF have flown hundreds of strike sorties against Islamic terrorists on Mindanao and elsewhere in the recent years. They usually operate in pairs, one helicopter armed with gun-pods (sometimes only one, more usually two are carried), and other with rocket launchers, so to provide better mutual cover. Several losses occurred in the last ten years, nevertheless; but, most of these in flying accidents. (Artwork by Tom Cooper) The year 2003 began with a big battle between the PhA and the MNLF, when the later took 40 civilians as hostages and the 6th Infantry Division was deployed to counterattack, supported by OV-10s, SF.260s, and UH-1. Some 178 terrorists were killed but the exact outcome remains unclear. In May 2003 the PhAF launched air strikes on MNLF bases using two OV-10s and four MD-520s, dropping a total of 121 bombs calibre 175kg in the process. Bombing of the Camp Bushra caused some damage but did not cause the MNLF to abandon it. The attack on Camp Gumander, however, was hailed as a huge success in preventing it from being turned into a fortress. Also attacked were the towns of Poona Piagapo, Pontoa Ragat and Munai; rockets and bombs caliber 175kg destroyed also one of ASG-camps, and the PhAF reported to have killed as many as 60 terrorists. As the planes and helicopters finished their work ground troops moved in and finished off the scattered opposition: town after town began to fall to the Army and Marines as they inflicted big losses on the MNLF. During this time the PhAF admitted that none of its F-5A/Bs were combat ready, but also that all the others could not fly and were grounded. Meanwhile, problems with acquisition of spare parts started plaguing the entire remaining fleet of combat aircraft and helicopters, and many OV-10s, SF-260s, UH-1Hs, and C-130s were grounded. Of some 60 UH-1Hs only 50% remained airworthy. Of all the machines the newer MD-520 was in the best shape and the type continues to bear the brunt of providing armed support for ground units. In the recent years the PhAF received three additional surplus F-5As from South Korea, ten surplus OV-10s from Thailand, and is going to receive additional 20 surplus UH-1Hs from Singapore, as well as 30 from the USA. At least eight additional F-5A/Bs were received in the last few years from an unnamed source, but all were meanwhile grounded for lack of spares and trained crews to maintain and fly them. The Blue Horizon UAV was also acquired from Singapore and Israel in 2001, and a PhAF officer already visited the Korean Aircraft Industry (KAI) plant to look at the KT-1 trainer. Deals for surplus F-5E/Fs from Taiwan, Switzerland and Jordan have fallen through for one reason or another leaving the air force still in need of new equipment. There is still a requirement for a multi-role fighter, the front runner in which is meanwhile the F-16, but with lack of finances and corruption in the government it seem to prevent any possibility of such acquisitions, and even some vitally important programs of the Navy appear to be in doubt. The air force is slowly trying to rebuild, but lack of funds, corruption, and a costly war in the south continue to have a negative impact. The venerable OV-10C Broncos are the main aircraft type deployed by PhAF in COIN war against Islamic terrorists in the south of the country. Armed with Mk.81 bombs and machine-guns, they proved very stable attack platforms and capable of providing heavy fire-power support for ground troops. (Artwork by Tom Cooper) In July 2003 during the hunt for Ghadaffy Janjalani, one of ASG’s local commanders, the PhAF deployed two OV-10s, three MD.520s, and two UH-1Hs to aid in the effort. Janjalani gathered some 71 terrorists in the Butril area when these were attacked: one OV-10 dropped eight bombs calibre 175kg on his suspected hideout while three MD-520s flew then strafed the fleeing rebels. Although Janjalani survived, his forces broke and fled with the army on their heels. In October of the same year the Philippines were declared a major non-NATO ally by the USA and are thus due to receive more military equipment in the coming years – especially for fighting against the ASG and the MNLF. The USA are now providing plenty of financial support and surplus equipment to aid the PhA and the Philippino Navy, while the Lockheed offered a barter deal for a dozen of F-16A/B Block 15s to the PhAF – even if it is very unlikely that anything might come out of this. With American support flowing in the Philippine Armed Forces have been able to keep constant and relentless pressure on the rebels, overrunning one camp after the other. The same is likely to continue happening this year as well. On 27 January 2004 the Marines suffered a loss of one killed and 12 injured when they stumbled into a ASG ambush, and a PhAF UH-1H injured the crew when crashing on 5 March. Newest reported battles followed on 4 April, when four ASG terrorists were captured by the Marines, and four days later, when six terrorists were killed during a fire-fight in Basilan.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 11:18:48 +0000
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