Five Blackhawk Arrive, Sixth Shipped by Sea

11 November 2020

Arrival of PHL Blackhawk helicopter (photo : DND)

First five brand-new PAF Sikorsky Blackhawks arrive in PHL

The first batch of Sikorsky S70-i Blackhawk Helicopters for the Philippine Air Force

arrived at the Clark Air Base aboard an Antonov heavy transport plane yesterday, 9

November 2020.

With the delivery, five out of the 16 Blackhawks are already in the country. The

aircraft that flew in the helicopters could only accommodate five units and, as a result, a

sixth was loaded on a ship which is expected to arrive in Manila next month.

The remaining 10 units are expected to be delivered within the first quarter of 2021.

The 16 helicopters, acquired from Polish company Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze

Sp.z.o.o, were manufactured under license from Sikorsky USA and have a contract price of

$241,461,699.39. The project was procured through a government-to-government

transaction with Poland.

The Blackhawks will greatly boost the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capability to

conduct various operations, including combat missions, humanitarian assistance and

disaster response, and help in the government’s efforts against COVID-19.

(DND)