Air Force to receive 10 helicopters

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will formally receive today eight combat helicopters and two attack helicopters.

The turnover and blessing of the eight Bell-412EP helicopters acquired from Canada and two AW-109E helicopters supplied by an Anglo-Italian company will be held at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at around 9 a.m.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin will be the guest of honor.

According to PAF spokesperson Col. Enrico Canaya, the helicopters are expected to improve the security and transport capabilities of the military.

“The helicopters will play different roles. The Bell combat helicopters can perform helicopter lift operations in different parts of the country and can be used for HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response) in times of calamities,” Canaya said in an interview yesterday.

“The AW109 helicopters can perform close air support and air reconnaissance,” he added.

Last year, the Philippines and Canada signed a deal for eight Bell-412EP combat helicopters worth P4.8 billion.

The air assets were acquired through state-owned Canadian Commercial Corp. The helicopters can perform assault support, close air support and are adaptable for any mission. Each unit can accommodate 14 passengers and one crew.

Canaya said the delivery of the eight helicopters was completed within the second quarter of the year. The air assets will be placed under the PAF 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing based in Cebu.

Meanwhile, The STAR reported last year that Anglo-Italian aircraft manufacturer AgustaWestland had won the bidding for the supply of eight AW-109E attack helicopters, amounting to P3.44 billion.

Two of the helicopters were delivered in June. The air assets will be assigned to the 15th Strike Wing in Cavite and will be used for internal security operations and airborne surveillance.