Defence24: Polish factory PZL Mielec will build 32 Black Hawk helicopters for the Philippines
The Polish plant PZL Mielec (a division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation) has received a contract for the production of 32 Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk multipurpose helicopters. The company will supply the Philippines with American-designed machines under a contract worth $ 630 million. This is reported by Defence24 with reference to the Minister of Defense of the Philippines Delphine Lorenzana.
The contract was signed on December 28. Under the terms of the agreement, Poland will supply the first five helicopters in 2023, and in 2024 and 2025, the manufacturer will supply ten helicopters each. The Philippines will receive seven more cars in 2026. Poland will also transfer spare parts, helicopter maintenance equipment and provide personnel training.
The head of the Defense Department stressed that the Philippine S-70i was actively used during the elimination of the consequences of typhoon Odetta. The new machines will replace Bell UH-1 helicopters, whose maintenance is unprofitable.
Earlier, Flight Global magazine published the World Air Forces 2022 handbook. The publication noted that there are more than 19 thousand military helicopters in the world, and the most common machine remains the Black Hawk.
In November, the United States began testing a gun for a promising helicopter. The General Dynamics XM915 gun was installed on a modified UH-60 Black Hawk, which is used to test individual components.
