The primary combat utility helicopter (CUH) of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) as of this very moment is the Bell UH-1 HUEY, it is also their first combat utility helicopter since the Cold War up until the Vietnam War, right up to the present time.
W-3WA SOKOL; THE FIRST MODERN COMBAT UTILITY HELICOPTER OF THE PAF
During the Arroyo administration the government have plans to replace their ageing fleet of UH 1 to something more modern and advance, the Combat Utility Helicopter (CUH) Acquisition program have started during the Arroyo administration.
The helicopters have arrived during the term of the Aquino administration. Only one bidder have won the bidding and that is Agusta Westland (Leonardo) a contract for eight brand new W-3WA Combat Utility Helicopter was ordered.
The Arroyo administration have plans to acquire eight (8) attack helicopters based on the PZL W-3 Sokol which is under Agusta Westland (Leonardo), but the planned acquisition have failed because of anomalies regarding the attack helicopter acquisition's budgeting/financing..
The W-3WA was demoted to search and rescue duties, during the Aquino administration because of anomalies concerning the aircraft's performance during military operations, that demotion and declaration that we would not be using the W-3WA as combat utility helicopters anymore prompted Agusta Westland (Leonardo) to offer their AW-109 instead of a possible PZL W-3 gunship offer for the Attack Helicopter acquisition project, that is the reason why the Aquino administration restarted the Combat Utility Helicopter acquisition; By acquiring eight (8) Bell 412 intended to replace the UH-1 as the primary combat utility helicopter of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), three (3) of those are temporarily have been converted into VIP helicopter transport because of the reason that we lack air assets during the APEC meeting of which the Philippines is the host at that time.
As of this time, two W-3WA helicopter of the Philippine Air Force have crashed investigation is still ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.
HUEY II; CO-DEVELOPED WITH BELL, THE FIRST HELICOPTER THE PHILIPPINES HAVE GREAT INVOLVEMENT WITH
The Philippines help in the co-development of the UH-1 H Huey into the HUEY II along with the manufacturer Bell, right now the HUEY II is used as a Search and Rescue helicopter by the Philippine Air Force.
"The Philippine Air Force received first four Huey II upgraded helicopters in June 2014.
THE UH-1'S BASIC INFORMATION
- Type: Multi-Role / Utility / Attack / Transport Helicopter
- National Origin: USA
- Manufacturer: Bell
- Introduction: 1959
- Power plant: 1 x Lycoming T53-L-11 turboshaft engine delivering 1,100 shp driving a two-blade twin main motor and a two-blade tail rotor
We are operating:
- The UH-1 H: a improved version of the UH-1 D;
- The Bell 412: a military transport helicopter based on the UH-1 H;
- And HUEY II: co-developed with the Philippines, a improved and updated model, it is based on the UH-1 H.
Brand new Bell 412 of the Philippine Air Force. Philstar
BELL 412, THE NEXT COMBAT UTILITY HELICOPTER OF THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE
The Aquino administration have acquired eight (8) brand new Bell 205 Combat Utility Helicopters from Canada, too boost the current airlifting and troop transporting capabilities of the Philippine Air Force, the Bell 205 is expected to replace our ageing UH-1 fleet in the following years to come. Or maybe, our existing UH-1 fleet could be improved into the improved and updated HUEY II, for practical reasons that is.
Source
Like our Page
Join our Group
Source
Like our Page
Join our Group
0 comments:
Post a Comment