DEFENDERS

The 1st delivery of MD-520MG DEFENDER ATTACK HELICOPTERS is in early APRIL 1990. Equipped with .50-caliber machine guns and seven-tube rocket launchers, the MGs, as they are fondly called, were expected to boost the effectiveness of counter-insurgency operations. This development prompted the activation of another unit – the 18th Tactical Air Support Squadron, on 02 May 1990, with MAJOR ALFREDO UBUNGEN as its first commander. In line with this, five (5) officers and eight (8) enlisted personnel were sent to Arizona, USA, for training. On 01 October 1990, the first four MGs landed at Sangley Air Base.