Philippines receives delivery of 5 more Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters

 

5 new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters arrive at Clark Air Base in the Philippines on 07 June 2021. Photo c/o PAF.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has received a second batch of five S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters delivered by the Poland’s PZL Mielec.

The helicopters arrived at Clark Air Base, north of Manila on 07 June 2021 aboard a chartered Antonov An-124 Ruslan civilian cargo aircraft.

This delivery brings a total of 11 units delivered by PZL Mielec, out of the 16 units ordered by the PAF in 2019. 

The helicopters will undergo post-delivery checks and tests, before formally accepted into service with the PAF’s 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing.

5 more helicopters are expected to be delivered on or before September 2021, based on previous statements by the Philippines Department of Defense (DND).

According to the PAF, the new helicopters will boost the service’s airlift capability and provide the Philippine government with platforms to serve in more areas in less time.

The Philippines DND ordered 16 new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters as the PAF starts to replace its ageing Bell UH-1 Huey combat utility helicopters with new aircraft, with the DND previously confirming plans to purchase up to 32 more new combat utility helicopters to eventually phase out the Bell UH-1 from active service.

The first 6 units were delivered in November and December 2020, and has already been actively used by the PAF for utilitarian roles including combat support, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and transport roles including bring COVID vaccines to remote areas of the country.




[1] ABS-CBN News
[2] MaxDefense Philippines
[3] Philippine Defense Resource