The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has added five new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to its fleet, officially received during an Acceptance, Turnover, and Blessing Ceremony held on August 13, at the Haribon Hangar in Mabalacat City.
The event was led by PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura. The helicopters, which arrived in the country on July 15, are part of a 32-unit acquisition from Poland’s PZL Mielec under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program. Previous batches of five units were delivered in June and December 2024.
Each aircraft underwent a thorough Technical Inspection and Acceptance process conducted by the Department of National Defense, the AFP, and the PAF to ensure they meet operational standards. The 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing under the Air Mobility Command will be responsible for operating and maintaining the new helicopters.
Known for their versatility, speed, and reliability, the S-70i Black Hawks are capable of performing a wide range of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response, troop and cargo transport, and other operations critical to national security and development.
“With this latest addition, the PAF further strengthens its capacity to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, troop and cargo transport, and other missions critical to national security and development,” said PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo.
