A total of P62 billion fund has been set aside for the purchase 32 Black Hawk helicopters and six offshore patrol vessels to augment the Philippine military’s operations, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday.
In a Viber message, Lorenzana informed reporters that the Black Hawk helicopters will be sourced from PZL Mielec, Poland while the vessels will be from Austal, an Australian-based ship building firm.
“Newly approved funding for capital assets acquisition: 32 units Blackhawk helicopters- P32B. [Six] units OPV – P30B,” Lorenzana said.
He said that there was still no contract for these additional assets, adding that it was “still under negotiation.”
Lorenzana also said the government was looking to sign the contract before President Rodrigo Duterte finished his term in 2022.
“I’m very happy that before his term ends, we will be able to sign the contract for the 32 additional Black Hawk helicopters,” Lorenzana said.
During his speech in the turnover at the Philippine Air Force, Lorenzana said the government was acquiring more helicopters to assist in the Infantry operations.
“Kung marami tayong helicopters, mas madali ang trabaho ng mga infantry na katulad ko, hindi na kami maglalakad ng malayo, lilipad na lang kami run. Hindi na kami magdadala ng maraming pagkain dahil meron kaming resupply so it all boils down to this synergy of our forces,” Lorenzana said, reacting to queries of some air force generals on the additional assets of the military.
[If we have helicopters, it will ease up the job of the infantry, I don’t have to walk far, I will just use a helicopter. We don’t need to bring food because we have resupply.] -NB, GMA News
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