TSAMTO, December 10. Philippine Defense Minister Delphine Lorenzana said that an initial payment will be made in the near future under the program for the purchase of Russian Mi-171 helicopters for the country's Air Force.
According to the Philippine agency PNA, the minister announced this on December 7 on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the new commander-in-chief of the Philippine Air Force, Major General Connor Anthony Canlas.
Recall that despite the supply of Sikorsky multi-purpose S-70i helicopters, the leadership of the Philippine Ministry of Defense also decided to purchase Russian-made helicopters.
On November 4, 2020, the Ministry of Budget and Management of the Philippines published a Special Allocation Order (SARO) in the amount of 1.919 billion filip, approved on October 29, 2020. pesos ($41.56 million) to transfer 15% of the advance payment for the supply of transport helicopters in accordance with the requirements of the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Although the type of helicopter was not specified in the notification, according to the Philippine defense resource MaxDefense Philippines, 16 new Mi-171 helicopters will be purchased for the Philippine Air Force. Based on the amount of the advance, the total value of the sale should be 12.797 billion filip. pesos ($268.7 million)
At that time (early November 2020), it was expected that the contract would be signed in the near future. However, it is still unknown how the Philippine Foreign Ministry intends to circumvent the problem of American sanctions in accordance with the law "On Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions" (CAATSA).
As TSAMTO has already reported, for the first time, Raimundo Elefante, Deputy Minister of National Defense of the Philippines for Logistics and Financial Support, announced his intention to purchase 16-17 Mi-171 helicopters in Russia during the Army 2019 forum.
In March 2020, the Embassy of the Philippines in Russia reported that representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Armed Forces of the country visited a helicopter factory and a training center in Moscow in connection with the planned purchase of Mi-171 helicopters.
