16 more combat choppers joining PAF fleet

An additional 16 Bell 412 EPI combat utility helicopters will be joining the Philippine Air Force (PAF) inventory from 2019 to 2020. (Photo By Christian Valle – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — An additional 16 Bell 412 EPI combat utility helicopters will be joining the Philippine Air Force (PAF) inventory from 2019 to 2020.

This after Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana signed the PHP12-billion contract with Bell Helicopter and Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) last Dec. 29, the DND public affairs office announced Tuesday.

Representing Bell in the contract signing was James Williamson and Yvonne Chin, CCC Director for Asia. Delivery of the first Bell 412EPI helicopters units are expected to commence by the first quarter of 2019 while the last ones will be handed over by the second quarter of 2020.

The acquisition of these helicopters is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program Horizon 2 and will be used in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and other-related missions.

These aircraft are fully configured and equipped with advance features which include an electronic engine control, a glass cockpit display system and Garmin touch-screen navigation system.

Generally, these helicopters are capable of carrying 14 passengers and flying at a maximum speed of 140 knots (around 259 kilometers), cruise speed of 122 knots (226 kilometers per hour) and a range of 402 nautical miles (745 kilometers).

It is powered with an enhanced Pratt and Whitney PT6T-3D Twin Pac.