Philippines to acquire 32 new black hawk helicopters. philippines to get 32
new Black Hawk Helicopters, the philippines purchased 32 S-70i Black Hawk
helicopters from Sikorsky aircraft's poland-based subsidiary PZL Mielec to
add to its existing fleet by 12, the country's defense chief said on sunday
in a bid to improve disaster response capabilities.
defense secretary delfin lorenzana said a notice of appreciation was issued
on december 28th for the purchase of new helicopters under the project that
was equipped with logistical support in training packages for pilots and
maintenance crews at a cost of 32 billion pesos, 624 million dollars.
"Contracts are now being drafted with delivery of the first five units
expected in 2023," Lorenzana said on Facebook.
"The rest will be delivered in three batches, 10 units in 2024, 10 units in
2025 and 7 units in 2026," he said.
The shortage of transport planes and helicopters has never been more severe
during the pandemic and after typhoon Rai, Lorenzana said.
This is exacerbated by our aging huey which is becoming uneconomical to
maintain. Rai last year's 15th and deadliest typhoon to hit the philippines,
killed more than 400 people and caused widespread damage in the country's
central and southern regions in December.
The united nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs said
on sunday in a statement that hundreds of thousands of people still need
food in clean water, shelter and protective support, one month after the
world's second deadliest disaster in 2021 hit the philippines.
The philippines is continuing its plan to procure 32 new S-70i Black Hawk
helicopters. Manila has made further progress with its plans to purchase 32
new Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters for the Philippine
Air Force (PAF).
Philippine secretary of national defense delphin lorenzana revealed on
january 16th that a Notice Of Appreciation (NOA) was issued to PZL
Mielec from poland on december 28 2021 for the airframe.
The indicative contract value for the project is php 32 billion (624 million
us dollars) and will include a logistics and training package for pilots and
maintenance crews. The philippines ordered an initial batch of 16 S-70s in
2019 for 241 million dollars.
DND agreed to buy 32 more black hawk helicopters
Philippines Manila, the government will procure an additional 32 S-70i Black
Hawk combat utility helicopters for national defense after a Notice Of Award
(NOA) was issued for pzl melech from poland late last year, defense minister
delfin lorenzana announced last sunday.
Lorenzana shared in a facebook post that NOA was issued on december 28 2021
for a php 32 billion project that comes with an initial logistical support
package and training for pilots and maintenance crews.
The contract agreement is now being drafted after which the notice to
proceed will officially start the project. Deliveries of these helicopters
will start in CY (Calendar Year) 2023 five units, while the rest will be
delivered in three batches as follows, CY 2024 second batch 10 units, CY
2025 third batch 10 units and CY 2026 the last batch seven units, Lorenzana
wrote.
The philippine air force paf previously completed the acquisition of 16
blackhawk helicopters, also from the polish aerospace manufacturer for 241
million us dollars approximately php 11.5 billion.
The first batch of six helicopters was delivered in november 2022 years ago,
followed by a second batch of five in june last year 2021 which was
officially received, delivered and blessed on october 13/2021.
The final batch of five was delivered on november 8/2021 and was officially
received by the PAF on december 3rd.
The shortage of transport planes and helicopters has never been more severe
during the pandemic and after hurricane odet. This is exacerbated by our
aging huey which has become uneconomical to maintain.
The 12 new black hawks carry a heavy workload. during this critical time
Lorenzana said PAF S-70i units are transporting relief supplies and rescue
personnel to areas hit by cyclone odette last month. They have also been
used to transport covet 19 vaccines in geographically remote areas.
