The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has returned to service a recovered Sikorsky S-76A helicopter. The PAF held a ceremony marking its re-induction at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on 26 January.
Lieutenant General Arthur M Cordura, Commanding General of the PAF, emphasised that the successful restoration and recovery of the S-76A reflected the PAF’s growing self-reliance and firm commitment to operational readiness.
The PAF had grounded its S-76A fleet in 2020, following a crash that resulted in four fatalities.
The restoration of the S-76A was carried out under the supervision of the 505th Search and Rescue Group (505th SRG). The helicopter was fully restored following an extensive repair effort, and it will enhance the PAF’s search and rescue (SAR), air transport and disaster response capabilities.
The 505th SRG undertakes SAR and humanitarian missions within the PAF, and the newly restored helicopter is now cleared for operational taskings with the group.
The PAF is known to have acquired at least nine S-76As in total. Some initially operated in an armed role, but they were later converted to undertake search-and-rescue missions.
The PAF also operates a growing fleet of Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk utility helicopters.
In 2022, as part of the Philippine Department of National Defense’s Additional Utility Helicopters Acquisition Project, 32 new helicopters were ordered from Lockheed Martin. These are being manufactured by the US conglomerate’s subsidiary PZL Mielec.
The Polish company delivered ten S-70i Black Hawk helicopters in 2024, a further ten in 2025, and another batch of five helicopters was delivered this month.
The 25 new S-70i aircraft, with seven still awaited, join the PAF’s incumbent fleet of 15 S-70i units. The type is operated by the PAF’s 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing.
The PAF also operates several other rotorcraft types, including the Turkish Aerospace T-129 Atak helicopter, Leonardo AW109E and Bell 412EP.
Six T-129 Ataks were ordered in July 2020, and deliveries concluded in May 2024. As for the AW109Es, they were commissioned into service in August 2015, with all eight helicopters achieving operational status later that year.
Incidentally, a potential PAF procurement of Russian Mil Mi-17 medium-lift helicopters was cancelled in 2022.
by Mike Rajkumar
