MikeLigalig.com

By Ben Cal

After waiting for three years, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) finally got the first delivery of four of eight brand-new combat utility helicopters ordered from PZL Swidnik of Poland.

Lt. Col. Mike Okol, PAF spokesman, confirmed to the Philippines News Agency that the four helicopters arrived over the weekend while the other four will be delivered in November.

PZL Swidnik, the biggest helicopter manufacturer in Poland, won in the public bidding to supply the PAF with a fleet of eight brand-new utility combat choppers.

The Polish-made helicopter can carry 14 persons, including the pilot and co-pilot, and has a maximum speed of 260 kilometers per hour and a range of 745 kilometers non-stop.

It can climb to an altitude of 19,680 feet, more than twice that of the “Huey” helicopter.

The Swidnik choppers can be armed with a variety of weapons, air-to-ground rockets, air-to-air missiles, M-60 machine guns and 20mm cannons.

The Polish company, which manufactures PZL W-3 Sokol and PZL WS-4 helicopters, is the main supplier of combat helicopters to the Polish Air Force and other European countries.

The PAF bought the eight Polish-made helicopters at a contract price of P3 billion.

The arrival of the four utility combat helicopters is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program to boost the PAF’s air power, particularly supporting ground troops, during combat operations.

Col. Okol said preparation for the inauguration and blessing of the new choppers is being made.

It takes at least three years for a manufacturer to deliver brand-new helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft ordered by buyers from countries in various parts of the world.

The Air Force has been in dire need of helicopters not only to support ground forces but also because choppers are the workhorses of the AFP in times of disasters like floods, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes to evacuate the victims and also bring food to the evacuees in areas not reachable by roads.



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