Philippines plans to acquire Mil Mi-171 helicopters from Russia

The Mil Mi-171Sh medium assault helicopter.

Philippine officials from the Department of National Defense (DND) attending the Army 2019 defense exhibition in Kubinka, Russia confirmed of plans to acquire the Russian Helicopters Mil M-171 helicopter for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

This was despite the type not chosen in an earlier helicopter acquisition project of the PAF, which was awarded to Sikorsky’s Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec to deliver the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk.

Philippine Defense Undersecretary for Finance and Materiel USec. Raymundo DV Elefante told Sputnik News that they are trying to close a deal to purchase the Mil Mi-171 helicopters from Russia within the year and was considered a priority project by the DND.

In April, Sputnik also reported that Philippine Defense Undersecretary for National Defense USec. Cardozo Luna is considering the purchase of between 16 to 17 Mi-171 helicopters from Russia.

The helicopters are eyed for use not just for combat support operations, but also in support of the government’s disaster relief operations. The PAF faces shortage in available helicopters, as it continues to use the Vietnam-era Bell UH-1D/H Huey as its standard helicopter despite previous deliveries of a few Bell 412EP helicopters.

If this pushes through, this would be the first time the PAF would be operating Russian-made helicopters.



[1] UrduPoint
[2] Sputnik News
[3] MaxDefense Philippines