DND gives nod to purchase of 32 more Black Hawk choppers

S-70i Sad Hawk helicopter (Portray courtesy of Sec. Delfin Lorenzana Fb)

MANILA – It’s a wander for the chief procurement of 32 extra S-70i Sad Hawk fight utility helicopters after the Scrutinize of Award (NOA) used to be issued to PZL Mielec of Poland gradual remaining year, Protection Secretary Delfin Lorenzana launched Sunday.

Lorenzana shared in a Fb put up that the NOA used to be issued on Dec. 28, 2021 for the PHP32-billion mission that comes with an initial logistics give a enhance to kit and practicing for pilots and maintenance crew.

The Contract Settlement is now being drafted after which a Scrutinize to Proceed will officially commence the mission.

“The provision of these helicopters will originate up on CY (Calendar Year) 2023 (5 units) whereas the remaining ones will be delivered in three batches as follows: CY2024 – 2nd batch (10 units); CY2025 – Third batch (10 units); and CY2026 – remaining batch (seven units),” Lorenzana posted.

The Philippine Air Pressure earlier (PAF) performed the acquisition of 16 Sad Hawk helicopters, additionally from the Polish aerospace producer, price USD241 million (about PHP11.5 billion).

The primary batch of six helicopters used to be delivered in November 2020, followed by the 2nd batch of 5 in June remaining year that used to be formally licensed, became over, and blessed on Oct. 13, 2021.

The remaining batch of 5 used to be delivered on Nov. 8, 2021 and formally licensed by the PAF on December 3.

“The inability of transport planes and helicopters like by no manner been more acute at some stage within the pandemic and within the aftermath of Typhoon Odette. This used to be exacerbated by our rising older Hueys which like change into uneconomical to shield. The 12 label new Sad Hawk bore the brunt of the work at some stage in these extreme times,” Lorenzana said.

PAF S-70i units are transporting help provides and rescue personnel to areas battered by Typhoon Odette remaining month.

They’ve additionally been utilized to transport Covid-19 vaccines in geographically isolated areas. (PNA)