Philippine Air Force to Receive Additional Utility Helicopters

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will receive five more refurbished President of the US (POTUS) programme (UH-1H) utility helicopters from the US.

PAF spokesman Lt Col Miguel Ernesto Okol said the helicopters were scheduled to be turned over to the PAF on 10 January, at the Villamor Air Base Grandstand in Pasay City in the Philippines.

“The newest acquisitions were test flown and declared operational following the completion of rigid test flights conducted at 410th Maintenance Wing in Clark Air Base,” he added.

“The POTUS-refurbished helicopters are a welcome addition to the PAF inventory of air assets. The anticipated roll-out of the additional ‘Hueys’ will boost internal security operations (ISO) missions of the PAF.”

The five aircraft, received as part of 20 helicopters committed by former US President George Bush under the US Excess Defense Articles programme, take the total aircraft to 15.