Every operation the Philippine Navy’s air arm has flown
The only operation documented for the navy’s aircraft in the sources reached is the South China Sea patrol mission, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea. The waters are claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines; a 2016 arbitral award favoured Manila and China does not recognise it. In May 2026 China said its patrols near Scarborough Shoal answered “rights violations and provocative acts”, which the Philippine military rejected. Counter-insurgency flying is not listed because no sourced account of it was found.
From the first Wildcat patrol in 2023 to Scarborough Shoal in 2026.
| Conflict | Jaren | Tegen | Hoofdvliegtuig | Uitvallen | Vliegtuig verloren | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) patrolssovereignty patrols and maritime cooperative activitiesPhilippine Navy Naval Air Wing | 2023– | AW159, AW109E, ScanEagleen nog 1 | 0 | |||
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Shipborne helicopter patrols from the José Rizal-class frigates, maritime surveillance and missile training in waters claimed by several states. The South China Sea is claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. On 12 July 2016 an arbitral tribunal under UNCLOS ruled in the Philippines’ favour on almost every count in the case Manila brought; China adopted a position of non-acceptance and non-participation and does not recognise the award, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The Philippines calls the waters of its exclusive economic zone the West Philippine Sea. The navy’s air arm took part from 2023, when a Wildcat embarked on BRP Antonio Luna for what Naval News called the first full-mission deployment of the pair. On 9 September 2025 an AW159 fired a Spike NLOS missile off San Antonio, Zambales. On 26–30 May 2026 an AW109 flew with Antonio Luna in a maritime cooperative activity near Scarborough Shoal, alongside air force jets, the coast guard and, for the first time, a US Coast Guard cutter. China said it had carried out combat readiness and law enforcement patrols near the shoal in response to what it called “rights violations and provocative acts”; the Philippine military said it detected no coordinated Chinese navy or coast guard exercises. Philippine officials were at the same time checking reports of a possible structure inside the shoal: Gen. Romeo Brawner said they were still investigating whether it was floating or fixed. Resultaat Wordt vervolgd. Close encounters between Chinese aircraft or ships and Philippine Navy aircraft were not found in the sources reached for this page; incidents involving air force, coast guard and fisheries bureau aircraft are not included here.
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Elk cijfer, gecontroleerd
- Naval News: Philippine Navy Wildcat marks first deployment in West Philippine Sea patrol (28 June 2023)First full-mission deployment of an AW159 with BRP Antonio Luna.
- Naval News: Philippine Navy holds South China Sea missile drills (17 September 2025)First aerial Spike NLOS launch, from an AW159, off San Antonio, Zambales, on 9 September 2025.
- Naval News: Philippines verifying reports of structure in Scarborough Shoal (1 June 2026)Maritime cooperative activity 26–30 May 2026 with BRP Antonio Luna and one navy AW109; statements by Gen. Brawner, Secretary Teodoro and China.
- Permanent Court of Arbitration: The South China Sea Arbitration (Philippines v. China)Award of 12 July 2016.
- Council on Foreign Relations: Territoriale geschillen in de Zuid-Chinese ZeeOverlapping claims; China rejects the 2016 award.
Cijfers geverifieerd op 1 oktober 2026. Back to the Philippine Navy Naval Air Wing.