Aside from its regular surveillance and patrol capabilities, the Philippine Navy (PN)'s newly-acquired AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopters are also capable of carrying out interdiction missions against suspicious looking craft entering the country's territorial waters.
"Once it detects a suspicious contact, our AW-109s can fly over the target and inspect it. Or it can call its mother ship and request for a RHIB (rigid-hull inflatable boat) to conduct a board-and-search operation," Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said in Filipino.
He added that the AW-109s can do this mission even at night-time thanks to its FLIR and night vision equipment.
FLIR means forward looking infrared.
It uses an imaging technology that senses infrared radiation.
The sensors installed in forward-looking infrared cameras—as well as those of other thermal imaging cameras—use detection of infrared radiation, typically emitted from a heat source (thermal radiation), to create a "picture" assembled for video output.
Another two AW-109s are expected to arrive during the first quarter of 2014.
The AW-109 "Power" helicopter is a three-ton class eight seat helicopter powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW206C engines.
The spacious cabin is designed to be fitted with a number of modular equipment packages for quick and easy conversion between roles.
The aircraft’s 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.
The AW-109 has established itself as the world’s best selling light-twin helicopter for maritime missions.
It's superior speed, capacity and productivity combined with reliability and ease of maintenance make it the most cost effective maritime helicopter in its class.
For shipboard operations the aircraft has a reinforced-wheeled landing gear and deck mooring points as well as extensive corrosion protection measures.
The ability to operate from small ships in high sea state enables the AW-109 to perform its mission when many other helicopters would be confined to the ship’s hangar.
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.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=599002
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