MANILA, Philippines- Inaasahan ng Philippine Air Force (PAF) ang pagdating ng 22 Black Hawk helicopters mula sa Polish aerospace manufacturer PZL Mielec simula ngayong taon hanggang 2026.
Sinabi ni PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo na sasailalim ang Air Force personnel na mag-ooperate sa darating na Black Hawks sa matinding pagsasanay upang matiyak na kaya nila itong paliparin at alagaan.
“This 2025, we are expecting the arrival of Black Hawk helicopters. This is an ongoing acquisition. We have ordered 32 units and 10 of them arrived so far,” pahayag ng opisyal sa panayam.
Bumili ang PAF ng 32 units ng Black Hawk mula sa PZL Mielec, isang subsidiary ng American defense at aerospace manufacturer na Lockheed Martin. Nilagdaan ang kontrata noong February 2022 na nagkakahalaga ng P32 bilyon.
Nai-deliver ang unang limang five units noong June 2024 habang ang second batch na binubuo ng lima ay dumating noong Disyembre ng parehong taon.
“Then 15 units will arrive and another seven within this year until next year,” wika ni Castillo.
“Anytime that there are new equipment arriving, especially those that are not in our inventory, the training of our pilots and maintenance crew is always included in the acquisition process,” dagdag niya.
“We always make sure in all aspects that our pilots are well trained as well as the crew who will maintain our air assets because we spend millions and billions for these. Aside from that, what’s more important are the lives of the crew,” patuloy ng opisyal. RNT/SA
