2013 AFP Anniversary Display of Air and Naval Assets

Photos courtesy from Francis Neri

Last batch of Sokol helicopters undergoes tests

THE last batch of W-3A Sokol helicopters that the government bought from Poland has been placed under flight and certification tests as a prelude to commissioning, a Philippine Air Force (PAF) official said.

“Our crew are putting [the aircrafts] in a series of tests and for certification. Once these requirements are met, commissioning of the four will immediately follow,” PAF Spokesman Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said on Monday.

The four 6-ton class helicopters are the last of the eight batches that the Department of National Defense (DND) ordered from PZL-Swidnik SA in 2010.

The first four were delivered last year and were commissioned in March 2012.

The fifth and sixth Sokol helicopters, on the other hand, arrived in the Philippines on November 26, 2012. The seventh and eighth batches were delivered last month.

PZL-Swidnik, an AgustaWestland company, said the Sokols were transported from Lublin Airport to Clark Air Base onboard an An-124 Ruslan large cargo airplane.

The company added that the Sokols are “equipped with the latest navigation and avionics systems including 4-axis autopilot, EFIS system and night-vision goggle- compatible cockpit, allowing them to operate day and night in all weather conditions.”

Each helicopter, it added, can transport up to 11 troops in the cabin or can lift up to 2,100 kilograms, or 4,630 pounds, using its external cargo hook.

Powered by two engines, each with the take-off power of 662 kilowatts, the Sokols reach maximum speed of 260 kilometers per hour or 140 knots.

The company added that each helicopter can fly 734 kilometers or 402 nautical miles or stay airborne for over four hours using its standard fuel tanks.

“I’m pleased that the excellent operational capabilities of the Sokols are greatly appreciated by the Philippine Air Force. I look forward to expanding our close partnership with the customer in the future providing technical support and ongoing operational support for the Sokols,” PZL-Swidnik’s statement quoted Management Board President Mieczysław Majewski as saying.

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Dennis D. Estopace | Business Mirror | March 4, 2013 | Article Link

Philippine Air Force to get 25 more helicopters in December

MANILA, Philippines -– The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will get 25 more helicopters late this year to augment its depleting air assets.

This was announced during the Air Power Symposium 2012 held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Friday as part of its preparation for the forthcoming 65th PAF anniversary celebration on July 6.

The symposium was hosted by Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino G. de la Cruz, PAF commanding general.

This year’s theme was “Mobilizing Air Power for the Nation’s Multi-Dimensional Challenges.”

De la Cruz said four of the helicopters will be the last of the eight brand-new combat utility Sokol choppers the Department of National Defense ordered from PZL Swidnik of Poland.

The arrival of the final four Sokol helicopters will boost the firepower of the PAF which is in dire need of air assets, particularly fighter jets.

PZL Swidnik is the largest helicopter manufacturer in Poland.

The Sokol helicopter can carry 14 persons, including the pilot and co-pilot and has a maximum speed of 260 kilometers per hour and a range of 745 kilometers non-stop.

Each Sokol is armed with a variety of weapons such as air-to-ground rockets, air-to-air missiles, M-60 machine guns and 20mm cannons and climbs to an altitude of 19,680 feet.

The contract price of the Sokol choppers was P3 billion.

On the other hand, 21 refurbished UH-1H “Huey” helicopters will also be delivered in December this year.

“Hueys” are not only the workhorse of the military’s counter-insurgency operations in ferrying troops to combat areas but are also used during disasters, carrying food, water and medicines for victims stranded in remote areas.

Some of the 21 “Huey” helicopters were refurbished in the United States and the others were done by PAF engineers and aircraft mechanics.

The acquisition of new combat helicopters is part of the Modernization Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

During the day-long affair, De la Cruz said the symposium, which is an annual event of the Air Force since 1982, except for some broken years, “is designed primarily to discuss and promote the value of air power to a wider constituency.”

But for 2012, the forum was unique as it included the holding of “a 5-in-1 activity -- an academic forum, an air power symposium, a defense exhibit, a historical photo display, and the first Youth LEAP or Youth Leader Exchange for Air Power gathering.”

“We are holding this event no longer to cater mainly to an internal audience or our friends in aviation, but to a greater multi-sectoral representation of national security stakeholders and partners.”

De la Cruz stressed the importance of air power in the country’s defense.

“Today we all live in a highly complex and unpredictable security environment, and that the threats we face demand from us no easy solutions.”

Taking advantage of today’s new technology, De la Cruz allowed questions asked via the Internet, Twitter, Facebook, or mobile phones.

The questions were flashed on the wide screen during the question-and-answer portion of the symposium that turned out to be more lively.

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Ben Cal | Philippines News Agency/InterAksyon.Com | June 25, 2012 | Article Link

DND chief: PAF to have more air assets within the year

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be getting more flyable assets to fulfill its mandate to serve and protect the country.

The command will get two additional C-130 "Hercules" cargo aircraft, four more W-3A "Sokol" combat utility helicopters, and 21 refurbished UH-IH "Huey" general purpose helicopters before the end of the year.

"Our two C-130s will soon come out of its inspection and repair period and boost our 'Hercules" fleet to three. On the other hand, our W-3A "Sokol" will grow by eight as another four will be delivered by November to join the four earlier commissioned last March," Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

Aside from this, PAF will be putting into service 21 UH-1H "Hueys" into squadron service before the end of 2012.

The DND chief added that this is on top of the 10 attack helicopters following the signing and approval of the contract.

But when asked about the timetable on the PAF's acquisition of new fighter aircraft for its interceptor arm, Gazmin said that they are still in the process of assessing what is the most affordable and capable aircraft for the Philippines.

"We are in the process of the defense acquisition system that will be presented within the month and we are looking at several aircraft from South Korea, Italy, and the United States," Gazmin said.

The PAF is currently operating 48 UH-IH "Huey" general purpose helicopters, 18 MG-520 "Defender" attack helicopters, eight OV-10 North American "Bronco" turboprop bombers and three S-211 Augusta trainer jets.

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Philippine News Agency/ People's Television | May 10, 2012 | Article Link

Philippines junks plan to buy 'ageing' F16s

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines has abandoned plans to purchase “ageing” F16 fighter jets from the United States after deciding repairing and refurbishing the aircraft would cost too much.

“F16 is an ageing air asset that will be given to us. It’s mothballed and if you’re going to refurbish it, we have to evaluate because it will cost too much,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told a news briefing.

Even after refurbishing, he added, the jets would only have three to four years of flying time left.

“Lugi ka (You lose),” Gazmin said.

The defense chief said the fighter jets were not brought up during the 2+2 meeting with US officials in Washington.

However, the Philippine government has lined up the purchase of several air assets,
including 21 Vietnam War-vintage UH1H helicopters, 10 attack helicopters and two C130 cargo planes.

The Philippines is also expecting four additional SoKol choppers within the year.

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Abigail Kwok | Interaksyon.com | May 9, 2012 | Article Link

DND eyes second-hand jets, gunboats from other countries

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) is eyeing second-hand fighter jets and missile-firing gunboats from at least four friendly states apart from the United States in line with the country’s ongoing effort to build a credible territorial defense.

According to Peter Paul Galvez, DND spokesman, there are now ongoing acquisition efforts for these air and sea fighting equipment from France, Italy, the United Kingdom and South Korea.

“We now have this defense cooperative arrangements with these countries and through this scheme we will able to acquire fighter jets and gunboats at a lower price from them,” Galvez said yesterday.

Among the factors being considered by the department in its defense procurement program are the capability, longevity and cost of maintenance of these air and naval assets.

Now locked in a standoff with China over Panatag Shoal in Zambales, the country was earlier reported to be eyeing the procurement of a squadron of second-hand F-16 fighter planes and gunboats from the US Coast Guard.

“It’s not necessarily F-16s. We are also looking at jet fighters with the same capability as that of the F-16s but are cost-efficient and low in maintenance,” he said.

He added the acquisition program would also cover the Navy, which is awaiting transfer of the Hamilton-class cutter USS Dallas later this year.

The defense acquisition program is among 132 projects the department is eyeing to complete before the end of July.

“With the full backing of the President and with the assistance coming from friendly states, we will be able to achieve... a credible territorial defense,” Galvez said.

The US-based Center for a New American Security (CNAS) has said that the Philippines needs up to four squadrons (48) of upgraded Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, well-armed frigates and corvette-size, fast to surface combatant vessels and minesweepers and four to six mini submarines, possibly obtained from Russia, to build a credible defense force in the face of China’s increasing belligerence in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

In an article “Defending the Philippines: Military modernization and the challenges ahead” written by Richard Fisher, CNAS pointed out that this level of capability would far exceed current Philippine planning and finances and it would be in Washington’s interest to make it easier for Manila to acquire US fighters, frigates and other weapons system and encourage other countries such as Japan and South Korea to help modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Philippine Air Force is presently relying on a single trainer jet converted into a fighter aircraft as well as several units of Vietnam-vintage OV-10 Bronco bombers, UH-IH and M520 attack helicopters as well as four newly delivered Sokol helicopters from Poland to guard the country’s skies.

The Navy, aside from several Peacock-class warships and a couple of World War II-vintage ships, simply relies on its newly acquired Hamilton-class cutter from the US, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, to secure maritime domain.

The country, through the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and absent a credible territorial defense, could only watch China lording it over Panatag Shoal, a rich Filipino fishing ground 124 nautical miles from Zambales province.

Fight our own battles

Meanwhile, a congressman said yesterday that the Philippines should deal with China on its own in resolving the dispute over Panatag Shoal and the Spratly Islands.

“We cannot rely on the United States or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for help. How then can we expect these nations to help us out when they have to protect their relations with and business interests in China? It’s quite pathetic for us to even seek their help,” Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano said.

“We should stop our practice of begging for help and hiding behind stronger economies when things get rough for our country. We cannot and should not always run to others for help. It’s time we fight our battle on our own,” he said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin recently discussed with their US counterparts the country’s standoff with China over Panatag Shoal.

American officials, however, said they could not take sides in the dispute. But they promised help in the strengthening of the Philippine military.

Albano supported the position of President Aquino that the territorial conflict with China must be resolved peacefully and through diplomatic means.

“We must exhaust all peaceful and diplomatic means not because China is stronger than the Philippines in all aspects. Small country as we are, we have the obligation and the right to fight for the territory which has been ours long before China made its claim,” he said.

He said the plan to bring the issue before international forums like the United Nations is the right tack.

“We can win this battle over (Panatag) Shoal even without help from other countries because the territory is ours. We should make China accept that fact through peaceful and diplomatic means,” he added. 

Anti-China ‘hysteria’ hit

For the National Democratic Front, the US military activities in the Philippines are as much a form of foreign intervention as the Chinese incursion in Panatag Shoal.

“Alongside our condemnation of China’s incursion into (Panatag) Shoal, we must defy continued US troop presence and forward military deployment because these not only impinge on our sovereign right but, worse, drag the nation to the brink of an unjust war as well,” Jorge Madlos, spokesman for the NDF-Mindanao, said.

“We recognize, however, that it has been imbued upon the collective consciousness of the Chinese people that the West Philippine Sea is part of China, as much as Filipinos strongly believe that it is part of the Philippines. Thus, what is at stake here is the very integrity of both peoples,” he said.

“The answer to this inter-territorial dispute, therefore, is not war, but rather a diplomatic political solution between two countries in a third-party international tribunal,” Madlos said.

“It is for this reason that we condemn the military solution foisted by the US-Aquino regime, the pro-imperialist Akbayan special agents, and other rabid war mongers within the reactionary state. These war mongers shamelessly spread an anti-China hysteria that is engineered to drum up a military solution by upgrading the military capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and worse, insist on US military intervention,” he added.

He said prominent Chinese businessmen like Henry Sy and Lucio Tan have connived with the US to exploit the environment and the Filipino workers.

“The (Panatag) Shoal standoff is but symptomatic of their corporate greed, just a scratch to their decades-long plunder and exploitation. Adding to the tension in the standoff in (Panatag) Shoal, the recently concluded Balikatan exercises (US-RP joint military exercises), which was participated in by 4,500 US troops, and military contingents from seven other countries, sent a serious message to China that US imperialist power, in collusion with the Philippine reactionary government, is capable of engaging against those that threaten US hegemony in Southeast Asia,” Madlos said.

Madlos said the US “hands-off” policy expressed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is part of her country’s “containment and engagement” approach to dealing with China.

“Historically, US military forces have never been known to defend the sovereign right of the Filipino people, but only to protect US imperialist interests in Asia and the Pacific. In fact, US imperialism owes the Filipino people blood debts for over a century of oppression and exploitation, and its continued intervention has dragged the country into bloody wars,” he said.

“Thus, while we denounce Chinese incursion into our territory, the Filipino people must equally if not more strongly condemn US imperialist intervention as shown in its direct troop presence in Mindanao and in other parts of our country, which imperils the Philippines by bringing it on the verge of a war against China,” he pointed out.

“We must not be dragged into war on account of the West Philippine Sea dispute and become a helpless war theater for two of the biggest and most aggressive competing world powers, only to be used as a platform for their hegemonic conquest,” he said.

“If we recall, during World War II, the then emergent imperialist Japan attacked the Philippines because the US’s largest armament in Asia is stationed in the country, and, in turn, the Philippines also became a launch pad of Japan in occupying Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, and Thailand. We cannot allow the horrors of this history to repeat itself,” he added. 

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Jaime Laude | The Philippine Star | May 8, 2012 | Article Link

AFP to get warships, helicopters

TALISAY CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines is getting two more ships from the United States and Europe, and also acquiring 10 refurbished UH-IH Huey helicopters this year, in a bid of the government to modernize its poorly equipped military.

President Benigno Aquino III announced Saturday that the Philippines is due to receive another ship from the United States- a Hamilton-class Coast Guard cutter, following the acquisition last year of a similar patrol ship, which is now the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

We have another one from Europe, Aquino said, adding that Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will now have one ship each.

BRP Gregorio del Pilar, formerly a Hamilton 378-foot High Endurance Cutter of the United States Coast Guard, beefed up the poorly-equipped Philippine Navy vessels, majority of which had been built during World War 2.

Built primarily as a patrol ship of the US Coast Guard in the 1970s for open ocean and long range operations, BRP Gregorio del Pilar is now the pride of the Philippine Navy.

The government spent P400 million to refurbish the former US Coast Guard ship.

Aquino said the government will soon have 10 more refurbished Huey helicopters, in addition to 24 Philippine Air Force helicopters, that used to be at least 100 , whom General Rodolfo Biazon was still the AFP vice chief of staff.

The PAF recently received four of the eight brand new Sokol combat utility helicopters from Swidnik—which is touted as the "biggest helicopter manufacturer in Poland.”

Aquino said the refurbishing of Huey choppers is expected to be completed within eight months. “They will be utilized during evacuations, if there are floods and landslides”, he added.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez had earlier said that the United States will double its military aid to the Philippines, which is engaged in a prolonged maritime standoff with China over a shoal off Zambales.

Hernandez said the “foreign-military financing” aid could be used to buy new equipment or maintain existing military resources.

The Philippines has been asking the United States to supply its armed forces with patrol boats and aircraft as well as radar systems amid an escalating territorial dispute with China.

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 Gilbert Bayoran | The Visayan Daily Star | May 7, 2012 | Article Link

PAF not giving up on aged, battered Hueys

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines -- The crash of another Philippine Air Force UH-1H Huey helicopter in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte last Sunday has again revived questions about whether the Vietnam War-era aircraft ought to be retired and replaced.

The PAF currently has 40 Hueys, which have served as the workhorse of the armed forces for transporting troops and supplies, and for search and rescue operations since the late 1970's.

In December 2010, the US turned over five refurbished Hueys to the Air Force.

But the PAF’s Huey fleet has been plagued by deaths and injuries from numerous crashes since the late 1980s, earning the aged choppers the derisive nickname, “flying coffins.”

Last year alone, five personnel were injured in a crash on April 1 and three lives were lost in another mishap in Sulu last October.

The incident in Kitcharao, the first this year, saw seven injuries.

Despite this, Lieutenant Colonel Elpedio Talja, commander of the PAF’s Tactical Operations Group 10 based in Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City, said: “We are still confident that with proper maintenance, the ‘Huey’ is still airworthy and an essential part of our air force. Our existing helicopters are still reliable and perform well. All that is needed are good checkups and spare parts.”

He said the Air Force has no plans yet of retiring the existing UH-1H fleet, which will be working together with the recently arrived PZL Swidnik W-3 Sokols from Poland.

“The purchase of eight Sokol combat utility helicopters is a welcome (development) for the armed forces. Actually there are many modernization projects in the pipeline; a lot of plans are in the works like long range patrol aircraft, light attack helicopters and fighter aircraft,” he said.

Last February, four of the eight Sokols, which are based on the Soviet Hind attack helicopters, were delivered to the Philippine government. The remaining choppers will be delivered in the second half of the year.

As it is, the PAF remains way behind other air forces in the region.

The last of F-5 Freedom fighters, which had been used for decades as interceptors for external defense, were decommissioned in September 2005.

The need for long-range patrol aircraft like the US’ P-3 Orion, has also been in discussion since the late 1990's as part of military’s modernization program.

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Erwin Mascarinas | InterAksyon.com | 15-Mar-12, 10:25 AM | Article Link

PAF to train new Sokol chopper pilots

AIR FORCE CITY, Clark, Pampanga, March 10 (PNA) – Six helicopter pilots of the Philippines Air Force (PAF) who underwent a two-month training in Poland to fly the newly- acquired W-3A Sokol combat utility helicopters, will form the core group of pilot-instructors who will train incoming PAF Sokol pilots.


Maj. Irvin D. Tanap, one of the six PAF helicopter pilots who went to Poland, told the Philippines News Agency Friday that new Sokol chopper pilots will be trained in the coming months.


The PZL-Swidnik, the Polish manufacturer of the Sokol helicopters, delivered on Friday the first batch of four of the eight helicopters ordered by the government for the Air Force to boost its firepower and lift capability.


The Polish company is represented in the Philippines by AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company based in Italy.


The other five pilots who underwent training in Poland were Maj. Randy G. Buena, Maj. Nomar Alinsangan, Capt. Joseph Alexander Marquez, Capt. Roderick Reyes and Capt. Mark Anthony Fernandez.


The training was provided by PZL-Swidnik, the manufacturer of the W-3A Sokol combat utility helicopter, a six-ton class twin-engine helicopter capable of carrying up to 12 passengers and two pilots.


The helicopter has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its outstanding operational capability, effectiveness, rugged and reliable in all conditions.


The W-3A Sokol helicopter can perform in a long range of operations, making it an excellent utility aircraft with a low maintenance cost.


According to Major Tanap, who had flown many combat sorties in Mindanao, particularly the all-out war between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2000, the newly-acquired Sokol choppers will be mainly used to transport troops and supplies.


He said the helicopter can carry a load of 2,100 kilograms and fly 300 nautical miles (480 kilometers), non-stop which is the distance from Manila to Cebu.


The eight brand-new choppers acquired at a cost of US$ 66 million are armed with two M60 machine guns and air-to-ground rockets, although the helicopters can be equipped with air-to-air heat-seeking missiles.


As a multi-role aircraft, the Sokol helicopters can be fitted with firefighting equipment called expendable belly tank that can be dropped where a fire is raging, and can also be used in medical evacuation and rescue missions at sea or in the mountain, transport combat casualties and disaster victims as the case may be.


Another feature of the chopper is its non-retractable landing gear designed to withstand landings on unprepared and rough ground. It has a cruise speed of 235 kilometers per hour with a maximum endurance of more than four hours flying.


It can climb up to 4,520 meters or 14,829 feet and can hover at 2,550 meters or 8,364 feet.


The delivery of the Sokol helicopters comes at a time when the PAF most needed them for quick transport of troops in the event of an emergency -- man-made or natural.


Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, who formally received the four choppers during a turnover ceremony here Friday, said that “our acquisition of these brand-new air assets shall certainly bolster the fire fighting capabilities of our Air Force in accordance with our modernization goals.”


“The placement of these aircraft in our Air Force inventory shall surely boost its development of mission-essential capabilities - mobility, firepower and accuracy, communications survivality and the ability to detect threat elements,” Gazmin said.


The helicopters are also fitted with night vision equipment to enable the pilots to see during night flying missions.


Journalists who covered the turnover ceremony were taken for 30-minute flight aboard the W-3A Sokol helicopters that went around Pampanga, including a view from the air of the areas hit by lahar during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1990.


Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz, PAF commanding general, said the new helicopters will boost the PAF’s ability to transport troops during combat operations and conduct rescue missions.


Dela Cruz jokingly said that “sometimes the joke hurts that we only have air but no force, but eventually this will be a thing of the past.”


The PAF waited for over two decades before they got the brand new W-3A Sokol helicopters from Poland.


The last time the Air Force acquired new helicopters was in 1989 when the government bought a fleet of MG-520 attack helicopters, although the PAF got some second-hand aircraft in the 1990s and in the first decade of 2000.


Lt. Col. Mike Okol, PAF spokesman, said the PAF has welcomed the delivery of the Sokol helicopters and is looking forward to get more air assets in the near future.


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Ben Cal | Philippine News Agency | March 11,2012 | Article Link

Philippine Air Force no more "all air, no force"

CLARK, Pampanga—The joke about the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is that it is “all air and no force”—and that hurts.

But that may soon be over.

Saying better times are at hand, the PAF’s new commanding general, Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz, on Friday attended the blessing of four of eight Polish multi-role helicopters worth P2.8 billion which the Philippines received as part of its modernization program.

The new W-3 Sokol (Falcon) helicopters will be used for combat support as well as disaster relief missions, Dela Cruz said in turnover ceremonies at the former US Clark Air Base in Pampanga province.

Dela Cruz said the acquisition of the new sophisticated machines gave a “glimpse of many more changes to come.”

‘Thing of the past’

From being the best in Southeast Asia after World War II until the 1960s, the PAF saw its squadrons of fighter jets become obsolete without being replaced despite modernization plans.

The PAF deeply felt its decline when the last of its F5 “Blue Diamond” fighter jets was officially decommissioned in 2005, leaving the military incapable of intercepting intruders in the country’s airspace. Meanwhile, the number of accidents involving refurbished planes and helicopters piled up.

“The lack of equipment has always been our handicap. But despite that, we never let our guard down and instead focused on our strength, the talent of our people,” Dela Cruz said at brief ceremonies at Air Force City. “Sometimes the joke hurts that we only have air and no force.”

“But eventually this will be a thing of the past,” he added. “We can now see a horizon of better times, the beginning of an Air Force that is adequately equipped and skilled.”

Morale boosters

The guests, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa, poured champagne on the helicopters’ noses during the ceremonies.

The new “Sokol” combat utility helicopters are expected to take some of the load off the military’s workhorse, the refurbished Vietnam War-era UH-1H “Huey” utility helicopters.

Used for transporting troops and cargo, the new helicopters are considered crucial for the emergency medical evacuation of ground troops in combat operations and for search and rescue missions during disasters.

Dela Cruz said the arrival of the new helicopters was a big morale booster.

“I know many of our fellow soldiers in the Philippine Army and the Marines will be very happy with the improved capability of their Air Force,” Dela Cruz said.

Demonstration ride

Maj. Randy Buena, group leader of six military pilots who have flown the new helicopters for test flights, said they were “amazed” at what the machines could do.

“It’s a beautiful aircraft,” Buena said before members of the media were given a demonstration ride on two of the helicopters.

This reporter was in a group of nine media members who, with two pilots and two crew members, flew for 40 minutes from Air Force City base through Crow Valley up to the crater of Mt. Pinatubo and back.

Unlike a ride in the single-engine Huey, the ride in the Sokol was smooth throughout despite the turbulence outside.

The pilots demonstrated the chopper could go on auto-pilot and showed off manuevers.

According to the briefer, the Sokols are equipped with the latest navigation and avionics systems that allow them to operate in all weather conditions day and night.

Credible defense

The PAF currently has 40 UH-1H helicopters, 18 MG-520 helicopter gunships, two Italian S211 jets with three undergoing repairs, plus about a dozen tuboprop OV-10 attack and observation planes, spokesperson Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said. One C-130 transport aircraft is in service and two are undergoing repairs expected to be completed this year, he added.

The Philippines has been fighting a decades-long communist insurgency, al-Qaida-linked terrorists with military assistance largely from the United States, its longtime ally, and rarely acquires arms and equipment from other countries.

Manila last year said it would seek 12 F-16 fighter jets from Washington amid its simmering territorial dispute in the West Philippine (South China) Sea with Beijing. Washington has provided a Coast Guard cutter to the Philippines and agreed to send another one this year.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines wanted to build “a minimum credible defense posture and the US has expressed their willingness to help us.”

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Dona Z. Pazzibugan | Philippine Daily Inquirer | March 10th, 2012 | Article Link

Christening of the Sokols

Photos taken this morning's christening at the 410th Hangar, Air Force City, Clark, Pampanga, Philippines.






Photos by: 


Philippine Air Force, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of National Defense

Philippine Air Force to get 4 new choppers

The Philippine Air Force will be upgraded with four new choppers as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization plan, the government said Thursday.
 
The arrival of the four of eight SOKOL multi-purpose combat utility helicopters is part of the P2.8 billion acquisition contract between the AFP and Polish manufacturing company PZL-SWIDNIK SA, according to a statement by the Presidential Communications Operations Office.
 
The turnover of the choppers signals the near completion of the initial phase of the modernization program which focuses on improving the AFP’s ability to conduct internal security operations.
 
Under this phase, the target acquisition include eight combat utility helicopters, seven attack helicopters, one C-130 aircraft, a long-range patrol aircraft and 18 basic trainer aircraft.
 
The government said the SOKOL helicopters are certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration, and have been proven to be effective and reliable in all weather conditions.
 
They also include flexible internal and external cargo capacity, making them capable of performing a wide range of operations and excellent utility choppers.
 
Under Republic Act No. 7898, or the AFP Modernization Act of 1995, the military has received a total fund of P331 billion for its upgrade.

“The plan follows a strict schedule for upgrades in order to modernize the AFP to a level where it can effectively and fully perform its constitutional mandate to defend the sovereignty and protect and preserve the patrimony of the Republic,” the statement said.
 
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin will be the guest of honor during the formal turnover of the choppers, which will be headed by PZL-SWIDNIK SA president Mieczyslaw Majewski, to be held at the Air Force City in Clark, Pampanga on Friday.
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Shielo Mendoza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom | Article Link

PAF Gears Up With Brand New Combat Utility Helicopters

 Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will formally accept the initial four (4) of the eight (8) brand new multi-purpose combat utility helicopters as part of the P2.8B acquisition contract between the ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP) and WYTWORINIA SPREZETU KOMUNIKACY JNEGO “”PZL-SWIDNIK”SPOLJA AKCY JNA in a simple ceremony on March 9, 2012, from 8:00am to 12:00noon at the 410th Hangar, Air Force City, Clark, Pampanga.

     The arrival of these brand new CUH signals the near completion of the initial phase of the PAF’s Modernization Plan and people could expect more advanced aircraft acquisitions, apt for territorial defense, soon.

     In a press statement, PAF PIO Director Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto G. Okol PAF (GSC) said that the continuation of the AFP Modernization Program is due “to the strong determination of our  Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, not to mention the solid commitment of H.E. President Benigno Aquino III – our Commander in Chief, to see a modernized Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during his term.”   

     Dubbed as “Back to Basics,” the first phase of the Modernization Program focuses on improving the AFP’s ability to conduct Internal Security Operations (ISO). Under this phase, the target acquisitions include eight (8) combat utility helicopters, seven (7) attack helicopters, one (1) C-130 aircraft and a long-range patrol aircraft and 18 Basic Trainer Aircraft.

     For the Capability Upgrade Program (CUP), Okol added that “more advanced aircraft are expected in Phases 2 and 3 where PAF related components are grouped into what it calls “Horizon Programs”, with Horizon 2 expected to begin in the 2012 to 2016 time frame.”  

     For Horizon 2, PAF expects the delivery of Territorial Defense assets such as Surface Attack Aircraft, Lead-In Fighter Trainers, Long Range Patrol Aircraft, Air Defense Radar, and a Special Mission aircraft, among others which will greatly boost the country’s defense stance against external threats.

     Initially, Republic Act No. 7898, otherwise known as the AFP Modernization Act of 1995 has given the military the opportunity to modernize with a total fund of P331B. The modernization plan follows a strict schedule for upgrades in order to modernize the AFP to a level where it can effectively and fully perform its constitutional mandate to defend the sovereignty and protect and preserve the patrimony of the republic.

     Various domestic security concerns since 1999, prompted the AFP to realign its modernization priorities to procure the necessary operational and intelligence requirements to support Internal Security Operations (ISO). Along with the equipment acquisition is the realization of providing significant attention to the other four components of the program, which is indispensable for ISO.

     The Sokol helicopters, once formally accepted by PAF, will greatly boost the search and rescue, medical evacuation and combat utility missions of the PAF.  Certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), these 6-tonne class twin-engine helicopters have been proven to be effective, rugged and reliable in all weather conditions. An added feature (of a SOKOL helicopter) includes its high flexibility and significant internal and external cargo capacity – making it capable of performing a wide range of operations and an excellent utility helicopter.  

     With the modernization in place, the newly appointed PAF Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino G. Dela Cruz AFP continues to initiate programs that will ensure that PAF also modernizes from within by strengthening the inner core of its airmen with  discipline, a strict sense and value for time, continued fiscal and financial reforms and an appreciation for the organization’s role in Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan”. 

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 Department of National Defense - Philippines | Thursday, March 8, 2012 | Article Link

The new PAF CUH W-3A Sokol flies over OCS

The new PAF CUH W-3A Sokol flies over OCS in Camp O'Donnel.
(Photo courtesy of Sandy @ Philippine Defense Forum)

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New Sokol choppers amaze Philippine troops

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine troops and civilians were awed by the latest military air asset acquisitions, which went on test flights Monday afternoon, a military spokesman said.

In a press briefing Tuesday, Colonel  Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the Sokol choppers, which flew from Clark Air Base in Pampanga, amazed the troops and civilians at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija where the aircraft passed by.

He said, “The troops were impressed with the capabilities of the Sokol choppers as they executed several air maneuvers.

Major Enrico Ileto of the 7th Infantry Division said the Philippine Army Aviation Battalion of the Light Armor Division stationed at Fort Magsaysay may have been the first Army unit to establish radio contact with the brand-new choppers.

“Pulse rates ran high with enthusiasm for soldiers assigned here when they noticed a unique chopping sound of the air in the background being accustomed to the thud of a Huey helicopter or any other rotary aircraft the Armed Forces Philippines has,” he said.

The helicopters, half of the originally eight scheduled for delivery were from Augusta PZL SWIDNIK of Italy and Poland, arrived last week at Clark Air Base.

The Sokol helicopter or “Falcon” in Polish, is a “more capable utility platform” and can be fitted with equipment depending on the mission that makes it an “ideal utility helicopter” for the air force, he said. It has night vision goggle-capabilities and is equipped with an SN 350 autopilot, which means it “can fly hands free especially in long transit flights.”

While the Huey can carry only seven passengers, the Sokol can accommodate 10 passengers with a maximum takeoff weight of 14, 110 lbs. and an endurance of three hours and 19 minutes. It can reach a maximum range of 402 nautical miles in a single flight with airspeed of 140.5 knots,  Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Ernesto Okol earlier said.

“The Sokol is fitted with gun mounts for the M60D machine gun on both sides and when utilized during search- and-rescue or over-water operations, it can be equipped with pilot-controlled emergency flotation gear attached to the lowest portion of the aircraft. It can also perform various missions other than combat to support the country’s peace and development efforts,” he added.

The acquisition cost is P2.8 billion and the procurement has undergone “rigid screening process.” The rest of the helicopters are expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2012 or first quarter of 2013.

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By Frances Mangosing
INQUIRER.net

2:55 am | Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

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