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While it has just seized six of the 16 Sikorsky S70i Black Hawk helicopters it has ordered from a Polish subsidiary of the US defense giant Lockheed Martin, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has indicated that it may need another 16 pieces of it. rotary wing fighter utility aircraft.
The six of the 16 helicopters, five of them arrived last month aboard a Russian-made Antonov plane, were formally accepted and baptized into service Thursday by military and defense officials led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who he was also the guest of honor during the event at Clark Air Force Base in Pampanga.
“The Air Force commander has hinted to me that the Air Force wants another 16 units of these Black Hawks. The chances of that happening are really great, so we’ll see, ”said the defense chief in his speech.
In a later interview, Lorenzana revealed that the defense department still has money to purchase helicopters from other suppliers.
But Lorenzana added that they may have adhered to the PAF-recommended Black Hawk helicopter model.
“[I was told] it’s better to have the same type [of helicopter for the purpose of]… maintenance and the pilot would no longer need to study and train, even with the supply of spare parts it is the same, “Lorenzana said, adding:” It is easier to maintain a fleet if they are all Black Hawks instead of various types. “
The 16 helicopters, the last 10 parts expected to be delivered next year by Polish contractors, were acquired by the PAF under the overall modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which has also already delivered to the Air Force with a squadron of South Korean-made FA-50 fighter jets and Brazilian Super Tucano jets.
These new combat utility helicopters will be used for missions such as cargo and personnel transport, medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, aerial reconnaissance, disaster relief operations, troop insertion and extraction, combat resupply, combat search and rescue. and limited close flights support, ”Lorenzana said.
“These planes would greatly help the operational readiness of the Armed Forces. Equipped with the Black Hawk, our Air Force can now provide rapid and sustained tactical survey day and night, as well as combat and non-combat search and rescue operations, ”he added.
The Air Force was supposed to have acquired Bell helicopters, but the Canadian government voided the contract at the last minute due to concerns about the country’s human rights record, a decision Lorenzana described as a “blessing in disguise” for the government.
“That the Bell 412 was canceled was a blessing in disguise. We got a better deal on these planes. Not only is the Black Hawk more powerful, there’s more payload and it has a longer range, but we also got them at the price with the Bell 412, which is a cheaper aircraft, ”he said.
“They are also delivered in advance. For this acquisition, the acquisition process was also very fast and smooth. I signed the contract in March 2019, or 20 months ago, and now our pilots are ready to fly them here, these six helicopters, “he added.
Lorenzana said the arrival of U.S. combat utility helicopters is part of the defense kit the Trump administration wanted to deliver to the Philippines before he leaves office, noting that the United States has successively delivered billions in assets and equipment over the years. last days. including unmanned aerial systems, precision guided munitions and much needed missiles and counterterrorism equipment.
China has seen successive visits by US officials to the country, in which the equipment was handed over, fomenting regional chaos as officials also visited other parts of Southeast Asia, but Lorenzana dismissed the views of Chinese officials.
“That is your opinion. For us, we don’t see it that way. They are here to maintain their relationship with the Philippines because we have the Mutual Defense Treaty and they have been our ally for a long time, ”said the defense chief.
