The AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopters, now
in service aboard the two Gregorio Del Pilar frigates, have greatly enhanced
the maritime air patrol and surveillance capability of the Philippine Navy
(PN).
This was stressed by Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Caesar
Taccad in a statement.
"Likewise, (the AW-109s have greatly enhanced) the
conduct of disaster response operations. They are also projected to be onboard
components of the SSVs (strategic sealift vessels) and (missile-armed) frigates
(which is now ongoing bidding)," he added.
The PN currently possess three AW-109s. They were delivered
and commissioned in December 2013.
The last two units of the five helicopter deal with
AgustaWestland was delivered last Dec. 29 and now undergoing assembly and testing
prior commissioning.
The contract is worth Php1.33 billion.
The last two will be armed with machine guns, 20mm cannons
and possibly air-to-ground rockets.
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 others 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=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=721336
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