The Philippine Navy (PN) has announced that its two armed
AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopters will be commissioned during
its 117th anniversary on May 27.
"We're hoping to commission them by our anniversary
this May," Navy spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to the
PNA on Sunday.
The two armed AW-109 airframes arrived in the country last
December as part of the five-helicopter deal, worth PhP1.33 billion, signed by
the Philippines
Three of the AW-109s were delivered and commissioned on Dec.
22, 2013.
The armed versions of the AW-109s will be armed will have
machine guns, 20mm cannons and possibly with 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.
Its 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=740106
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