Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana leads the inspection of the spare parts donated by Japan. A turnover ceremony for the first batch of the items was held on Tuesday at Clark Air Base. FRANCES MANGOSING, INQUIRER.net
CLARK FREEPORT — Some of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) Huey helicopters that are idle in hangars will soon be back in the skies.
On Tuesday, the PAF received from Japan the first batch of spare parts intended for its primary workhorse in a turnover ceremony here.
The initial batch of spare parts worth P200 million (¥424 million) was picked up by a PAF C-130 last March 11 at Iruma Air Base in Saitama, Japan. The rest of the items will be picked up by a Philippine Navy ship in April.
Japan had earlier committed to donate a total of P2.5 billion (¥5.3 billion) spare parts and maintenance equipment to help the Air Force boost its air mobility requirements.
The items committed by Japan include: airframe structure; dynamic power system, control system; rotor system; hydraulic system; electrical system; instrument system; and accessory equipment, among others.
Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez said the first batch of spare parts will immediately restore two Huey helicopters while the remaining ones to be delivered later on will bring back a maximum of five Hueys to full mission capable status.
A PH Air Force C-130 picked up the initial Huey spare parts worth about P200M from Japan. The rest will be picked up by a PH Navy ship. Total cost of the donation is ¥5.3 billion (about P2.4 billion). pic.twitter.com/mBmoDKlTJL
— Frances Mangosing 🇵🇭 (@FMangosingINQ) March 19, 2019
“The donation will upgrade our combat utility fleet especially for the impending national elections, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, security requirements in areas of internal security in combating terrorism,” he said in his remarks.
The Hueys are also used for transport and intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR) missions of the PAF.
There are only a little over 20 airworthy Hueys in the PAF’s current inventory.
“I see a sustainable and continued operations of these vital air assets with these Japanese-donated UH-1H spare parts and maintenance equipment which we could readily use whenever these helicopter-workhorses need repairs/ maintenance to keep them airworthy, and maintain their ready for missions status,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.
The Philippines is the very first recipient of excess defense articles from Japan, after the latter lifted its decades-long self-imposed ban on weapons exports. Last year, Japan completed the donation of five C-90 patrol aircraft to the Philippine Navy.
“This will further strengthen our alliance and friendship… and contribute to regional peace and stability,” said Toshihiko Fuji, Japan’s assistant commissioner on acquisition technology and logistics agency.
Lorenzana expressed hope that the relationship of both countries would expand further in the coming years amid the evolving geopolitical challenges in the region. /je