Air Force May Soon Acquire Additional Combat Utility Helicopters

06 September 2017

Bell 412 of the PAF (photo : Economic Times)

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) may soon be acquiring additional combat utility helicopters (CUH), MaxDefense Philippines said. This is after Canadian Commercial Corp. (CCC) and Department of National Defense (DND) singed an Implementing Arrangement in July.

According to MaxDefense, helicopters, probably Bell 412, may be acquired through government-to-government negotiation.

MaxDefense said PAF has requested for 16 new CUHs for funding under the AFP Modernization Program Horizon 1 for 2017. It added that as of August 2017 the request remains the same with PHP12.1 billion expected budget.

The most recent acquisition of Bell 412EP helicopters for the Philippine Air Force from Bell Textron Helicopter of Canada through CCC was in 2014 via government-to-government negotiation.

Eight helicopters were acquired and accepted mid-2015.

With their four-bladed main rotor and twin-engine design and night capability, these helicopters provide better performance and better capability for the PAF in providing heli-lift operations for combat support and in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

(Update)