Aside from providing eyes to its parent frigates, the armed
AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters will also be useful as
"air amphibious support" assets, according to Philippine Navy public
affairs office chief Cmdr. Lued Lincuna.
The latter is an offensive military operation that uses
naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially
hostile shore at a designated landing beach.
The commissioning of the two armed AW-109Es on Monday will
coincide with the retirement ceremony of PN flag officer-in-command Vice
Admiral Jesus C. Millan who will be leaving the service after reaching the
mandatory retirement age of 56.
The aircraft are armed with 20mm auto-cannon pods and rocket
launchers.
The last two AW-109E airframes arrived in the Philippines
This is part of the five-helicopter deal, worth PhP 1.33
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 equipped with
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 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=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=791406
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