{"id":99244,"date":"2017-04-20T23:46:13","date_gmt":"2017-04-21T03:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=99244"},"modified":"2017-04-20T23:46:13","modified_gmt":"2017-04-21T03:46:13","slug":"attack-versions-of-aw-109-now-a-reliable-platform-for-anti-asg-ops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2017\/04\/20\/attack-versions-of-aw-109-now-a-reliable-platform-for-anti-asg-ops\/","title":{"rendered":"Attack versions of AW-109 now a reliable platform for anti-ASG ops"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The attack version of the AgustaWestland AW-109 “Power” helicopter is now becoming a reliable ground support aircraft for the military engaged in flushing out Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits and other lawless elements. (Photo: Philippine Military Analysis and Updates\/Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MANILA, April 20\u2014The attack version of the AgustaWestland AW-109 “Power” helicopter is now becoming a reliable ground support aircraft for the military engaged in flushing out Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits and other lawless elements.<\/p>\n

On April 11, Philippine Air Force attack (PAF) AW-109s provided covering fire for troops engaged with the band of ASG sub-leader Muanmar Askali alias “Abu Rami” invaded Sitio Ilaya, Barangay Napo, in Inabanga, Bohol.<\/p>\n

In the said operation, the AW-109s conducted several airstrikes, demoralizing the bandits who were then forced to retreat from their enclaves leaving four of their members, including Askali, along with four high-powered firearms.<\/p>\n

The attack versions of the AW-109s was also used in the series of airstrikes against the Maute Group in Lanao Del Sur early this year, causing severe casualties among the brigands.<\/p>\n

The aircraft was also utilized in maritime patrols off Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi waters, foiling several ASG piracy attacks in the past months.<\/p>\n

The first two PAF attack AW-109s were commissioned on Aug. 17, 2015 while the remaining six were formally accepted for PAF service on Dec. 5 of the same year.<\/p>\n

The Philippines signed an eight-unit attack AW-109E order with AgustaWestland in 2013 for PHP3. 44 billion.<\/p>\n

The eight attack AW-109es will remedy the dwindling number of MG-520 attack helicopters primarily used for close-air support missions.<\/p>\n

Two attack models are also being operated by the Philippine Navy aside from the three units dedicated for utility and recon purposes.<\/p>\n

The naval AW-109s were delivered in 2013 and 2015 and is worth PHP3.4 billion.<\/p>\n

The AW-109 “Power” is a three-ton class eight seat helicopter powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW206C engines.<\/p>\n

The spacious cabin is designed to be fitted with a number of modular equipment packages for quick and easy conversion between roles.<\/p>\n

The aircraft\u2019s safety features include a fully separated fuel system, dual hydraulic boost system, dual electrical systems and redundant lubrication and cooling systems for the main transmission and engines.<\/p>\n

The AW-109 has established itself as the world\u2019s best selling light-twin helicopter for maritime missions.<\/p>\n

Its superior speed, capacity and productivity combined with reliability and ease of maintenance make it the most cost effective maritime helicopter in its class.<\/p>\n

For shipboard operations the aircraft has a reinforced-wheeled landing gear and deck mooring points as well as extensive corrosion protection measures.<\/p>\n

The ability to operate from small ships in high seas state enables the AW-109 to perform its mission when many other helicopters would be confined to the ship\u2019s hangar.<\/p>\n

Over 550 AW-109 “Power” and AW-109 light utility helicopters have been ordered for commercial, parapublic and military applications by customers in almost 50 countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MANILA, April 20\u2014The attack version of the AgustaWestland AW-109 “Power” helicopter is now becoming a reliable ground support aircraft for …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":99245,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1482,16,95],"tags":[18195],"class_list":["post-99244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-breaking","category-news","category-news-ph","tag-agustawestland-aw-109","mauthors-priam-f-nepomuceno","mauthors-philippine-news-agency"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}