Breaking news
Philippine Navy Commissions Two armed AW-109E to Act as 'Air Amphibious Support' Assets.
| 2015
| |
|||
| a | |||
Naval
Forces News - Philippine |
|||
Philippine Navy Commissions Two armed AW-109E to Act as 'Air Amphibious
Support' Assets |
|||
The Philippine Navy (PN) formally commissioned into service its two
armed AgustaWestland
AW-109E "Power" helicopters during a ceremony at Naval
Station Jose Andrada, on Roxas Boulevard, Manila this week. The helicopters
are armed with two FN Hertsal FN RMP rocket machine gun pods combining
a 50 caliber machinegun and three 2.75 inch rockets. |
|||
 Aside from providing eyes to its parent frigates, the armed AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters will also be useful as "air amphibious support" assets. Picture: Philippine Navy |
|||
Cmdr. Lued Lincuna, PN public affairs office chief, said that armed
AW-109Es are also equipped with maritime air surveillance capability,
amphibious air support operations and weather search radar and forward
looking infrared systems that enhances the Navy's maritime air surveillance
and close air support for ground troops. The last two AW-109E airframes arrived in the Philippines last December. This is part of the five-helicopter deal, worth Php1.33-billion, signed by the Philippines with AgustaWestland early 2013. Three of the AW-109s were delivered and commissioned in Dec. 22, 2013. Aside from providing eyes to its parent frigates, the armed AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters will also be useful as "air amphibious support" assets, according to Philippine Navy. The latter is an offensive military operation that uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach. |
 Philippine Navy's AW-109E are seen fitted with FN RMP machine gun and rocket pods. Picture: Philippine Navy |
|||
The
AW-109
"Power" helicopter is a three-ton class, eight-seat helicopter
powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW206C engines. The spacious cabin is
designed to be fitted with a number of modular equipment packages for
quick and easy conversion between roles. For shipboard operations, the
aircraft has a reinforced-wheeled landing gear and deck mooring points
as well as extensive corrosion protection measures. The ability to operate
from small ships in high sea state enables the AW-109 to perform its mission
when many other helicopters would be confined to the ship’s hangar. According to FN Herstal, the FN RMP™ LC is a self-contained airborne weapon system that includes a .50 cal FN M3P™ (1,100 RPM) combat-proven machine gun, 250-round ammunition box, firing actuator and cocking device in one casing, allowing outstanding performance in all environments. The griFN® RMP can also accept guided or unguided 2.75” rockets. |
|||