The Philippine Air Force (PAF) conducted a blessing ceremony for five newly acquired S-70i Black Hawk helicopters at Haribon Hangar in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on December 17.
In a report by RH Edniel Parrosa, it was noted that the five choppers are part of the 32 units secured through a direct transaction with Poland’s PZL Mielec under Horizon Two of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program.
The first and second batches were subjected to thorough Technical Inspection and Acceptance (TIA) procedures carried out by the Department of National Defense (DND), AFP, and PAF to ensure compliance with required standards and specifications.
With the new helicopters, PAF is set to expand its operational capabilities, ensuring improved support for humanitarian efforts, disaster relief, and missions essential to safeguarding national security and fostering development.
The initial batch of helicopters proved instrumental in disaster response efforts following the recent typhoons that struck the country.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously reiterated the administration’s full commitment to supporting military modernization.
However, the AFP modernization program is facing a significant cut in the 2025 national budget, with an allocation of only P35 billion—P15 billion less than the amount requested by the DND.
