PAF gets 10 Black Hawk choppers in fleet build-up

WITH the delivery of 10 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters in 2024, the Philippines is on its way to having the world's largest fleet of these rugged, multi-mission aircraft. The deliveries were part of a contract with Lockheed Martin, to supply 32 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters under the Department of National Defense's Additional Utility Helicopters Acquisition Project. "The growing Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter fleet in the Philippines is a testament to this reliable, multi-mission aircraft that is depended on for missions such as search and rescue, humanitarian aid and troop transport across the archipelago," said Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky. "When deliveries are completed, the Philippines will have the largest fleet of S-70i Black Hawks in the world, growing the global fleet of Hawks which supports interoperability and commonality and is a key deterrence and security advantage in the Indo-Pacific." Under the current agreement, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will receive 32 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, produced by Lockheed Martin subsidiary PZL Mielec in Poland. These will augment the PAF's existing fleet of 15 S-70i Black Hawks, bringing the total to 47. The first five helicopters under this contract were delivered in June 2024, with another five arrived last December. The remaining helicopters will be delivered over the next two years, significantly enhancing the operational capacity of the PAF. Lockheed Martin has also taken significant steps to strengthen its presence in the Philippines. In September 2024, the company appointed Asian Aerospace as the official original equipment manufacturer (OEM) authorized reseller of Sikorsky spare parts and repair services for Black Hawk helicopters in the country. Salim said this ensures that high-quality, OEM-approved parts are readily available, providing reliable support for the rapidly growing fleet.