PAF Gets 5 More S-70i Black Hawk Choppers

10 November 2021

Arrival of last 5 Black Hawk helicopters (photo : MaxDefense)

MANILA - The Philippine Air Force has accepted 5 more S-70i Black Hawk helicopters in Clark, Pampanga, which are meant to help in the country's disaster response. 

According to the Air Force, the batch completes the delivery of a total of 16 choppers, which were manufactured in Poland. 

The first batch of 6 units arrived in November last year, followed by the delivery of 5 helicopters in June this year. The second batch was only "formally accepted, turned over, and blessed in a simple ceremony" last month, PAF said. 

"The Black Hawk Helicopters will boost the AFP's capability to conduct various operations including humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions," their statement read.

According to Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano, the latest units that arrived will have to be screened and tested before they can be formally accepted, hence the delayed ceremony for the 2nd batch of choppers in October. 

More Black Hawks

Mariano said the Black Hawk fleet could pave the way for more choppers from the same brand due to its "proven system," but a formal contract has yet to be signed.

The choppers were first introduced during PAF's COVID-19 response. 

"Marami pa tayong... in program for more Black Hawks... The Black Hawk is a proven system although the Bell 412s are a proven systems," the spokesman said. 

(We still have things in program for more Black Hawks)

"Pero right now, if we can get a common equipment then it would be better for the Armed Forces to have a common equipment para hindi po mataas ang maintenance, hindi mataas ang support nito and we can sustain it more compared to may iba-ibang klase tayong mga helicopter," said Mariano. 

(So that the maintenance would not be too much, or even the support... we have different kinds of helicopter)

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