Philippines grows its S-70i fleet with 10 new deliveries
The S-70i is the international variant of Sikorsky’s UH-60 Black Hawk. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
The 10 helicopters delivered throughout 2024 make up part of a larger contract for 32 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters for the country.
Lockheed Martin has announced that it made a total of 10 S-70i Black Hawk helicopter deliveries over 2024: five in June 2024 and five in December 2024.
The contract, signed in 2022, stated that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) would take delivery of 32 aircraft from Lockheed Martin’s subsidiary PZL Mielec. It would expand the PAF’s existing fleet of 15 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to 47, boosting its operational capacity.
The remaining 22 aircraft will be delivered over the next two years, according to Lockheed Martin. As noted on Shephard Defence Insight, the deal for the PAF is estimated to be worth some PHP32 billion ($624 million).
Related Articles
Philippines awaits next T129 and S-70i helicopters
Lockheed Martin also boosted its presence in the region, when it appointed Asian Aerospace as the reseller of spare parts for the Black Hawk helicopter in the Philippines.
S-70i helicopters are in service with Brunei, Chile, Columbia, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Türkiye and it has also been ordered by the US. Almost 200 have been ordered and more than a quarter of those delivered.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
S-70i Second Batch [Philippines]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![France and UK to resume and upgrade Storm Shadow/SCALP production]()
France and UK to resume and upgrade Storm Shadow/SCALP production
The new ‘Entente Industrielle’ will work on a range of other projects to boost the UK economy and defence industry, including joint development on new high-tech frequency weapons and extended range air-to-air missiles.
-
![Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports]()
Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports
The E-7A is one of three aircraft submitted for the South Korean AEW&C II competition, which seeks to acquire four more aircraft of the type for its air force by 2028.
-
![France pushes for 80% workshare as FCAS programme nears critical development stage]()
France pushes for 80% workshare as FCAS programme nears critical development stage
Tensions on the programme have long simmered, with Airbus and Dassault recently clashing over workshare in June ahead of the Paris Air Show. The sixth-generation fighter programme is due to replace Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon jets beginning in 2040.
-
![US Air Force conducts climate testing with the T-7A Red Hawk]()
US Air Force conducts climate testing with the T-7A Red Hawk
The trainer aircraft recently completed the second round of extreme weather trials after enduring icy, windy and sunny conditions.
-
![US Navy acquires additional anti-submarine warfare kits for P-8A Poseidon aircraft]()
US Navy acquires additional anti-submarine warfare kits for P-8A Poseidon aircraft
The contract modification, awarded to Boeing, is worth $61.2 million and will support the US Navy’s (USN's) evolution of its P-8 Poseidon aircraft as continued upgrades are made to boost its capabilities and lethality.
-
![Union slams “self-sabotage” of UK government over Typhoon production]()
Union slams “self-sabotage” of UK government over Typhoon production
The UK Ministry of Defence remains resolute that the Typhoon sits at the heart of the country’s air defence capabilities and is focused on the aircraft’s potential export orders, despite its continued focus on F-35 procurement.
