Naval Aviation: Pn's Formidable Force

NAVAL AVIATION: PN's Formidable Force Multiplier

Nerry Martinez

Throughout the history of military arts until the early 1900s, air power was unknown. It only made its milestone after the First World War. Hence, Air Power Supremacy changed the course of modern-day warfare. At present, military strategists and planners can not take the control of airspace for granted, which makes the present day battlefield wider and more sophisticated.

Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, a US Navy Officer, widely considered the world's foremost theorist of military sea power concluded that "He who controls the sea controls the world." The rapidly advancing technology especially on war machinery development is focused on air power superiority, taking into consideration the unlimited airspace to play with. Does this mean that Mahan's concept of sea power is no longer true today?

Physical barrier may not be an obstacle for air machineries. However, these equipment, especially aircraft

have limitations. Some of these aircraft can only operate at certain distance and bringing them to areas of conflict, hundreds of miles away, is next to impossibility. In order to effectively utilize these assets beyond their limitations, it will be imperative to have a platform, a ship or a carrier to support their ground and other maintenance requirements to sustain their continuous operations. Thus, Mahan's conclusion may still be true to some degree.

Navies throughout the world consider air assets as vital equipment in their inventory. Various type of aircraft are employed in the conduct of their operations. However, these aircraft are not utilized to replace the surface ships. The Philippine Navy utilizes her aircraft as forward looking eye of ships, a formidable force multiplier.

Naval Air Group

The Naval Air Group, the air arm of the Philippine Navy started as a support unit of the Offshore Patrol in 1947 under the command of 1LT Conrado Chuidian PAF Ð'- the unit's first Commanding Officer. Various light aircraft type were then utilized and maintained by the unit to support its mission and functions. The acquisition of BO-105C helicopters and BN Islander aircraft in the mid-70's started the expansion of the Unit into a Group composed of two (2) operating squadrons and a ground support squadron.

At present, the Group is organized into two (2) operating squadrons, Multi-purpose Helicopter and Fixed Wing squadrons; one (1) ground support squadron; one (1) training squadron; seven (7) air units co-located with the Naval Forces; and a Naval Air Station at San Vicente Naval Operating Base.

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