Leonardo AW159 Wildcat ASW naval helicopters for Philippines to arrive today

Two AW159 Wildcats for the PN are flown from Yeovil to Stansted in preparation for delivery to the Philippines. Photo c/o Kevin Wills / Scramble Magazine.

The two (2) Leonardo AW159 Mk. 220 Wildcat anti-submarine warfare naval helicopters ordered by the Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) for the Philippine Navy (PN) are expected to arrive in Manila on 06 May 2019.

The helicopters are being flown from London-Stansted Airport in the UK via a chartered civilian Antonov An-124 Ruslan heavy strategic airlifter. The helicopters will then be re-assembled in the Philippines and are expected to formally enter service during the Philippine Navy’s 121st anniversary ceremonies on 27 May 2019 under the Horizon 1 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

The AW159 Wildcat was selected by the Philippine Navy in 2015, and was contracted by the DND with Italian-Anglo aircraft manufacturer AgustaWestland (now part of Leonardo) in March 2016 under a Php5.36 billion (US$116.5 million) deal.

These would be the first helicopters of the PN that would have anti-submarine capability, and would be armed with anti-submarine torpedoes, short-range air-to-surface missiles, and machine guns. As part of the contract, the helicopters are reported to be armed with the LIGNex1 K745 Blue Shark anti-submarine torpedo, and Rafael Spike NLOS missile, supplied by Leonardo as part of the contact.

The helicopters are expected to be assigned with the PN’s Naval Air Group (NAG) Squadron MH-40, which is the unit’s main naval helicopter squadron. They helicopters will be used to complement the upcoming Jose Rizal-class frigates under construction in South Korea and are scheduled for delivery starting early 2020.



[1] Scramble Magazine
[2] Philippine News Agency
[3] MaxDefense Philippines