Delay, Cobra Attack Helicopters Donated by Jordan May Arrive Early 2020

04 September 2019

Jordan AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter (photo : picclick)

Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lieutenant General Rozzano Briguez said that the arrival of two AH-1 “Cobra” attack helicopters donated by the Jordanian government may happen in early 2020.

“Maybe early next year because the training is ongoing,” Briguez said as quoted by Inquirer.net. “However, both Jordan and the Philippines are doing their best to hasten the process.

National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed in July that PAF pilots are already in Jordan to train for the said attack helicopters.

“On the Cobra attack helicopters from Jordan. While our pilots are already training there, it may take many more months before the helicopters are brought to the Philippines. But we hope it will be before the year ends,” Secretary Lorenzana said.

In June, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the transfer of AH-1S Cobra Attack helicopters donated by the Kingdom of Jordan.

The SARO has an amount of PHP 158,204,428.00 “to cover the requirements for the transfer and acceptance of two (2) units AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopters from the Kingdom of Jordan under the Revised AFP Modernization Program.”

(Mintfo)