Delivery of new PAF helicopters to start end of 2018

The Airforce is expected to get the first of new Bell 412EPI utility helicopters by the end of 2018. AFP PHOTO

SINGAPORE — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) would receive by the end of this year the first of 16 new helicopters that would be used for disaster response and other emergencies.

Patrick Moulay, Bell Helicopter executive vice president for global sales and marketing, said at the Singapore Air Show on Tuesday that the Philippine Department of National Defense awarded to Bell last month the contract for the purchase of 16 Bell 412EPI helicopters.

The P12-billion budget for the helicopters had been approved last December. —Jovic Yee