Philippine Air Force (PAF) commander Lt. Gen. Jeffrey
Delgado has said the delivery of its AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power"
attack helicopters will be completed before the end of this year.
"We expect six more attack helicopters that will come
before the year ends," he added.
The PAF formally commissioned its first two attack AW-109Es
last Aug. 17.
Delgado expressed confidence that the remaining six units
will be mission-capable before the last quarter of 2015.
The Philippine government signed an eight-unit attack
AW-109E order with AgustaWestland in 2013 for PhP3.44 billion.
The PAF chief said that .50 caliber machine gun and
2.74-inch rocket armed AW-109E will complement the existing fleet of MG-520
attack helicopters being used by the military in close-air support missions.
The AW-109E 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=796077
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