More Black Hawks for Phillippine Air Force
On 22 February 2022, Phillipine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana signed a USD 624 million contract with Janusz Zakrecki, president of Poland-based aerospace manufacturer PZL Mielec, to acquire 32 Sikorksy S-70i Black Hawks. The deal includes a training package for pilots and maintenance crews and logistical backup.
The acquisition of the Black Hawks will allow the Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas (PAF, Philippine Air Force) to retire its ageing Bell UH-1H helicopters.
Earlier, the Philippines acquired sixteen S-70i Black Hawks from PZL Mielec, all of which have been delivered. Unfortunately, one of the helicopters crashed on 23 June 2021 during night flight training in northern Tarlac province, killing six air force personnel. The contract for the first sixteen Black Hawks was signed in March 2019.
Photo by DND