The final tranche of five Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters reached Philippine shores on 3 August 2026, touching down at Clark Air Base aboard an Antonov Airlines An-124 transport aircraft.
This delivery completed the Combat Utility Helicopter Phase 4 order for 32 helicopters that Manila placed on 28 December 2021, and which was valued at PHP31.8 billion (US$624 million).
These final aircraft are expected to be inducted into the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in August, as well as two other S-70i units that arrived by sea in July.
The S-70i is produced in Poland by PZL Mielec, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary. It is the successor to the PAF’s ageing Bell UH-1 helicopters fleet, which it became imperative to replace after a spate of accidents in 2019-20.
Earlier, the fifth batch of S-70i helicopters was accepted by the PAF on 23 January 2026. On that occasion, five S-70is and eight M134D-H Gatling-type guns were accepted.
Colonel Maria Christina Basco, the PAF spokesperson, explained at the time, “The installation of Gatling guns significantly enhances the Black Hawk helicopters’ self-defence and mission support capabilities. These armaments provide suppressive fire that improves aircraft survivability during operations in hostile or high-risk environments.”
The fourth batch, comprising five helicopters, had arrived in the Philippines on 20 October 2025.
As for the first three batches, they were delivered on 10 June 2024, 9 December 2024 and 15 July 2025 respectively. Each batch amounted to five aircraft, all operated by the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing under the PAF’s Air Mobility Command.
The 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing also owns a full-motion simulator that has interchangeable cockpit modules for the S-70i and Bell 412EP. These were supplied by Simultec of Romania, and the simulator facility in Cebu was inaugurated on 10 December 2025.
For PHP964 million, the Philippines also acquired an undisclosed quantity of external fuel tanks for its Black Hawk fleet, which prolongs their flight endurance.
This was Manila’s second contract for the S-70i, with the first for 16 aircraft having been fulfilled by three batches between November 2020 and November 2021. Unfortunately, one later crashed. With 47 aircraft, the Philippines is now the world’s largest export operator of the S-70i.
Elsewhere, Bell has also been delivering helicopters to the PAF too. Combat Utility Helicopter Phase 5 saw the PAF order eight Bell 412EPX aircraft. The first two were formally inducted in a ceremony in Manila on 19 May 2026, after having been delivered in February. All eight ordered should be delivered by the end of next year.
The latest 412EPXs add to previously delivered 412EP aircraft, giving the PAF a fleet of 16 412 platforms now.
It is possible the PAF will continue to acquire more Bell 412EPXs and S-70is in the future.
by Gordon Arthur
