PORMAL nang pinasinayaan matapos na opisyal na tanggapin ng Philippine Air Force (PAF) ang kauna-unahang missile system training center na tinawag na Spyder Philippines Air Defense System (SPADS) Simulator – Training Center.
“The Philippine Air Force formally accepted the Spyder Philippines Air Defense System (SPADS) Simulator – Training Center in a simple Acceptance, Turn-over and Blessing Ceremony , ani Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na nagtungo sa Basa Air Base, sa Floridablanca, Pampanga bilang Guest of Honor.
Kasama ni Sec Lorenzana sa nasabing okasyon si PAF Commanding General, Lt.Gen. Connor Anthony Canlas, Sr.; Israel Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Ilan Fluss; Executive Vice President, Rafael Advanced Defense System, Brigadier General (Res) Pinhas Yungman at Commander, Air Defense Command, MGen. Augustine Malinit.
Isang missile engagement simulation at training capabilities ang ipinakita at sinaksihan nina Sec. Lorenzana, kasama ang mga PAF Senior Leaders upang maipakita ang kakayahan ng nasabing center at maging ang mga attendant facilities.
Ayon kay PAF Spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano, ang nasabing training center ay bahagi ng GBADS Acquisition Project ng PAF na naglalayong palakasin pa ang kanilang defense capabilities.
Ang SPADS Simulator – Training Center ang kauna unahang missile training center ng AFP.
Ayon pa kay Col Mariano , magsisilbi itong training ground para sa mga future missile operators na maghanda para sa real-world challenges at madagdagan ang kaalaman ng mga personnel sa paggamit ng missile at magkaroon “right attitude for air and missile defense.”
Samantala, ayon naman kay Lorenzana, ang pagbili ng mga mga capital assets na makakatulong sa pag-depensa sa ating bansa ay malaking bagay at siya ring prayoridad ng Department of National Defense (DND).
“As your defense chief for nearly six years, my happiest and proudest moments were the attainment of milestones in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program,” pahayag ni Sec. Lorenzana.
Layon ng simulator training center na mag-develop ng ibat- ibang capabilities gaya ng mga sumusunod: detection through radar, command and control, and missile firing at iito umano ay “custom-made” para sa PAF na siyang gagamitin sa kanilang pagsasanay sa advanced air defense techniques.
“May this new simulator training center inspire you to look into the Command’s bright future, utilize its capabilities to ensure the success of your missions, ” hamon ng kalihim sa pamunuan ng PAF. (VICTOR BALDEMOR)
