Philippines eyes CH-47 Chinook as alternative to cancelled Mi-17 Hip helicopter deal
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| The CH-47F Chinook, this example with the US Army. Photo c/o Boeing. |
The Philippines’ Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez has confirmed on 15 August 2022 that the Philippine Government is considering the Boeing CH-47 Chinook for the heavy lift helicopter requirements of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
This was after a contract with Russia to deliver 16 Mil Mi-17 Hip helicopters was cancelled by Manila due to exposures to sanctions related to the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for procuring weapons from sanctioned countries like Russia.
The CH-47 Chinook was competing against the Mil Mi-17 Hip for the PAF’s Heavy Lift Helicopter Acquisition Project, but the Russian helicopter was selected due to its lower cost, allowing the PAF to procure more helicopters for its budget of around PHP12.7 billion (US$245 million).
The Philippines signed a contract with Russia’s Sovtechnoexport agency in November 2021 for the supply of the Mil Mi-17 helicopters, and the initial payment worth PHP1.92 billion was already made as of January 2022.
The Philippine Government is now in discussion with Russia regarding the cancellation of the contract, and on getting the initial payment back including using it as payment for other Russian-supplied goods.
According to Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines, the CH-47 Chinook is much more expensive per unit compared to the Mil Mi-17, and the PAF may only get around 4 to 5 Chinooks for the same price as 16 Mi-17 Hip helicopters.
But Ambassador Romuladez said that the United States may offer the Chinook helicopters at a special price to the Philippines, which is considered one its most important major non-NATO ally in the Pacific region.
Boeing currently produces the CH-47F Chinook, the latest variant of the venerable Chinook family of heavy lift helicopters, although the US also have a large stockpile of older CH-47D variants that it may offer up to friendly countries as Excess Defense Articles (EDA).
Philippines eyes CH-47 Chinook as alternative to cancelled Mi-17 Hip helicopter deal
Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
August 16, 2022
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Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
August 16, 2022
Rating:
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