The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday formally turned over a Beechcraft Hawker 800XP transport aircraft donated by conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC), to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to be used for their command-and-control and transport missions. The Beechcraft Hawker 800XP is a mid-size twinjet corporate aircraft acquired by SMC in 2022. It was donated to the Department of National Defense (DND) and turned over to the AFP. A ceremonial champagne pouring and turnover of documents to the AFP highlighted the activity. AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Andres Centino received the documents on behalf of the Armed Forces.
“The PAF will utilize the (Beechcraft) Hawker 800XP as a Command and Control Aircraft. It will work in tandem or as an alternative system to the Gulfstream G280 acquired by the AFP in 2020,” Baclor said.
“A formal acceptance, turnover, and blessing ceremony was presided over by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. He was joined by SMC Chief Executive Officer, Ramon Ang,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor said in a statement Friday.
The aircraft will likewise be operated by the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (250PAW). The 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, known as the Bluebirds, is one the units of the Philippine Air Force attached and assigned with the Presidential Security Group. The 250th Presidential Airlift Wing provide aircraft and aircrew support for the airlift of the President, Cabinet Members and Presidential Staff, Immediate members of his/her family, and visiting Heads of states and other local and foreign VIPs. The 250PAW is organized to function as an independent unit of the Philippine Air Force.
The launch of the Raytheon Hawker 800XP extended performance mid-size business jet was announced in 1995. The aircraft is in service both as a business / VIP jet and also in special mission versions. The XP features uprated engine, enhanced aerodynamics, increased weight and system upgrades. In December 2006, Raytheon announced the sale of Raytheon Aircraft to GS Capital Partners. The new company is called Hawker Beechcraft Inc and the sale was completed in March 2007. The Hawker 800XP is of all-metal construction with low sweptback one-piece wings, a high tailplane and rear-mounted engines.
