The Philippine Air Force’ 5th Fighter Wing conducted its Air Combat exercise “Sanay Sibat 2022-1” on February 22 to March 5, 2022.
Sanay Sibat offers the PAF’s 5th Fighter Wing Units and Operators the opportunity to evaluate doctrine, tactics and desired tactical readiness in terms of capabilities. These was a 2-week exercise of intensive air-to-air and air-to-ground activities emphasizing on mission sets for which the 5FW is expected to perform and provide both for the Air Defense requirement and in other employment considerations.
Sanay Sibat 2022-1 was a step above the previous exercises of its kind since 2018. Deriving lessons learned in operating with other security partners and allies. These year’s Sanay Sibat concentrated on defensive and offensive counterair techniques, executing best tactics and dynamic coordination between capability packages and integrating these capabilities to obtain desired effects in a simulated battlespace and battlefield.
Another critical component of this exercise are the skills of the Air Weapons Controllers, the “eyes and ears” of Air Defense, from the 580th Aircraft Controller and Warning Wing. Command and Control with the Air Battle Managers have been seamless in performance with the Fighter Pilots.
“This recent exercise displayed the expected professional competence of all the players and the great performance from the air weapons controllers. They managed not only air to air assets but also strike assets simultaneously. Can't wait for them to be on an airborne command and control aircraft and controlling “large force” package of our Fighters”. said one of the Senior Pilots.
This highly intensive exercise aims to build confidence, and integrate leadership and warfighter culture that is able to operate both in the air and on the surface.
The said Air Combat exercise was also conducted to prepare the PAF Fighter Pilots to operate the Multirole Fighter Aircraft to be acquired in the near future.
# # # # #
