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Philippine Air Force took delivery of its two first Bell 412EP utility helicopters.
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World Defense & Security News - Philippines
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| Philippine Air Force took delivery of its two first Bell 412EP utility helicopters | |||||
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The Philippines armed forces have recently taken delivery of two new Bell 412EP utility helicopters, Philippine military spokesman said Thursday, July 2nd. Brand-new Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopters appeared during the celebration of PAF 68th founding anniversary at Clark Air Base in Pampanga Wednesday, July 1st. The choppers that were displayed included two Bell 412EP utility helicopters and two AgustaWestland AW-109E attack helicopters.
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 One of the two Bell 412EP utility helicopters showcased during PAF 68th founding anniversary at Clark Air Base in Pampanga |
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Two Bell 412EP helicopters were delivered last week, the first of an eight-helicopter order, said PAF spokesman Colonel Enrico Canaya.
The utility helicopters are undergoing technical inspection before they join the military's fleet to carry cargo and troops, he added. The rest of the order will arrive before the end of the year, supplementing the military's fleet of ageing "Huey" helicopters. PAF is set to receive a total of eight Bell 412EP helicopters. Five of this helicopter variant will be configured as combat utility helicopters, while three will be configured as VIP choppers. Brand-new Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopters appeared during the celebration of PAF 68th founding anniversary at Clark Air Base in Pampanga Wednesday, July 1st. The Bell 412EP offers dual digital automatic flight control system with available IFR option and so-called Category A/JAR OPS 3 capability. The chopper has a cruise speed of 140 knots (161 mph), range of 358 nautical miles (412 miles) and a cabin able to accommodate 14 passengers and one crew member. |
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 Two PAF AgustaWestland AW109E combat helicopters displayed at PAF 68th founding anniversary |
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The Philippine Air Force has operated derivations of the Bell UH-1H since the late 1960s, and since 1994 when they received their first two Bell 412s. The Philippines and Canada signed a contract for eight Bell 412EP combat helicopters worth P4.8 billion (US $106 mn) on March 28, 2014. The helicopters were acquired through state-run Canadian Commercial Corp. The air assets can conduct assault support and close air support operations and can accommodate 15 people, including the pilot.
The delivery of the eight helicopters will be completed in 2017. “We have already received the three CASA C-295 medium lift transports that we bought and two new Bell 412. Two more units of C-295 are set to arrive, two C-212 light lift transports and six Bell 412 combat utility helicopters,” Aquino said. Aquino added that in December, the PAF would also receive the FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer jets that the government acquired from South Korea. The new choppers that were displayed also included two AgustaWestland AW-109E attack helicopters. Six of the brand new AW109E Power helicopters commissioned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines arrived on December 20 in the country. Two of eight were showcased at PAF 68th founding anniversary. These attack helicopters are armed with Rocket Machine Gun Pod system (left, right) comprising a 12.7mm (.50 caliber) FN M3P machine gun, a NATO Standard 2.75inch/70mm 3-tube rocket launcher and a 400-round machine gun ammunition box. |
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