Navy chief in UK to inspect newly purchased helicopters

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy (PN) is expecting the delivery next month of two of the four new fully armed anti-submarine AgustaWestland AW0159 Wildcat helicopters from the United Kingdom.

Navy chief Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad and key officials from the Department of National Defense (DND) are currently in Britain for the final inspection of the two anti-submarine helicopters.

“Our FOIC (Flag Officer-in-Command) is now in UK with the DND’s test and inspection team purposely for pre-delivery inspections of the two AW-159 helicopters,” Capt. Jonathan Zata, Navy spokesman, told reporters Thursday at a reception on board Russia’s anti-submarine warship Tributs, currently moored at Manila South Harbor’s Pier 15.  The Tributs is in Manila for a five-day goodwill visit.

Zata said Empedrad was flown on both the soon to be delivered anti-submarine helicopters so he could personally check their stability and airworthiness.

The purchase of the four helicopters cost DND P5.4 billion.

The procurement was in line with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program that also involves the acquisition of two new missile firing frigates from South Korea for the Navy.

The Navy is also set to receive the first batch of four out of the eight Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) from a South Korean defense manufacturer next month.

Recipient of these AAVs, the first in the Navy inventory, will be the Philippine Marines. The acquisition is expected to strengthen the Marines’ ship to shore operations.

Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Alvin Parreño said the vehicles will be extremely useful in highly critical operations.

Aside from leading the forces deployed in conflict-stricken areas of Mindanao, specifically in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and Central Mindanao, the Marines are also tasked to secure the country’s maritime and territorial domain in the Kalayaan Island Group, in the Spratlys archipelago.