The choppers are now being assembled and will be flown to Clark later in January for the acceptance evaluation
BRAND NEW CHOPPERS: File photo of the wife of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin performing the ceremonial pouring of the champagne. Photo from Armed Forces of the
Four brand new AgustaWestland AW-109E Power helicopters were delivered to the Philippine military in December and are now being assembled, Defense Undersecretary for Finance Fernando Manalo confirmed on Wednesday, January 7.
READ: The shopping list: Status of PH military's modernization
Two of those delivered are naval helicopters, completing the total 5 choppers bidded out for the Philippine Navy. The first batch of 3 choppers arrived in December 2013 and have been deployed in tandem with the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz to patrol the West Philippine Sea (
The other two are
attack helicopters for the Philippine Air Force. This is the first batch of the
total of 8 choppers that the Italian supplier is expected to deliver this year.
"They are
now being assembled and we were told that in the middle of the month they will
be flown to Clark for the acceptance
evaluation," said Defense Assistant Secretary Patrick Velez.
The naval
choppers project cost P1.33 billion while the attack helicopters project cost
P3.44 billion.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/80037-brand-new-choppers-attack
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