MANILA, Philippines — Ten more Sikorsky S70-i Blackhawk helicopters for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are expected to arrive in the country in the coming months, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced yesterday.
Lorenzana said the delivery of the air assets acquired from Polish company Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze is on track.
“Five helicopters will be delivered in July and five more in September,” Lorenzana told The STAR.
The first batch of the 16 helicopters the AFP purchased for over $241,461,699 arrived in the country in November and December last year.
“The acquisition of the Blackhawk helicopters increased the operational readiness of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in combat and non-combat missions,” Lorenzana said.
He said the Blackhawks were being used by the PAF in transporting COVID-19 vaccines to the provinces.