Philippines adds 5 new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, 4 ScanEagle 2 UAVs to its fleet

 

Some of the newly inducted S-70i Black Hawk helicopters. Photo c/o Philippines DND.



The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has formally received and inducted into service 5 new Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters, as well as 4 new Insitu ScanEagle 2 small surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles.

A ceremony was held on 13 October 2021 with Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana leading the event, together with officials from Lockheed Martin, as well as the Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command  Admiral John Aquilino, and US Charge d'Affaires Heather Variava.

The new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters were acquired by the PAF as part of a contract signed with Lockheed Martin for 16 helicopters. 

Lockheed Martin's Polish subsidiary, PZL Mielec, built and delivered the helicopters.

Including these newly inducted units, a total of 11 helicopters have been delivered, but 1 was destroyed in a fatal crash last June 2021 that was attributed to bad weather and human error.

The helicopters are operated by the PAF's 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing.

The ScanEagle 2 UAVs were donated by the US Government as part of its commitments under the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative program.

The UAVs are said to be worth PHP20 million and will provide additional capabilities in providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as in support of counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.

The PAF currently has 6 ScanEagle 2 UAVs also provided by the US Government under the same program, and are flown by the PAF's 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing.

The ScanEagle 2 UAV has a maximum payload of 5 kilograms consisting of camera and sensors, has a cruising speed of 60 knots, and flight ceiling of 20,000 feet.

It can be launched and recovered from land or from naval vessels using a specialized launching equipment.




[1] Philippines Department of National Defense
[2] MaxDefense Philippines

Philippines adds 5 new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, 4 ScanEagle 2 UAVs to its fleet Philippines adds 5 new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, 4 ScanEagle 2 UAVs to its fleet Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on October 17, 2021 Rating: 5

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