Philippine Navy awaits delivery of 5 helicopters

CAVITE CITY, Philippines– The Philippine Navy is looking forward to the delivery of five Navy helicopters, three of which are due to arrive in December.

“We are also [waiting for] the acquisition of naval helicopters. The initial batch will be arriving by December of this year,” Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jose Louis Alano told reporters in an ambush interview at the anniversary rites of Philippine Navy at Fort San Felipe on Tuesday.

The AW109 helicopters are from Italian firm Augusta Westland.

The next two will arrive next year.

Alano did not provide other details about the choppers, but said the acquisition is part of the military’s capability upgrade program.

Meanwhile, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the second Hamilton-class cutter acquired by the Navy, will arrive from the United States in August.