Philippines Welcomes Cutting-Edge S-70i™ Black Hawk® Helicopters from Lockheed Martin
MANILA, Philippines Jan. 16, 2025 – Lockheed Martin supplied 10 S-70i™ Black Hawk® helicopters in 2024 to the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND), as part of a contract for 32 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters under the DND’s Additional Utility Helicopters Acquisition Initiative. The S-70 Black Hawk and the UH-60M Black Hawk possess the same robust, dependable, multi-mission functionalities.
“The expanding Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter fleet in the Philippines is a demonstration of this dependable, multi-mission aircraft that is relied upon for operations such as search and rescue, humanitarian support, and troop logistics throughout the archipelago,” remarked Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky. “Upon completion of deliveries, the Philippines will possess the largest collection of S-70i Black Hawks worldwide, augmenting the global fleet of Hawks which promotes interoperability and uniformity, serving as a significant deterrent and security asset in the Indo-Pacific.”
Established in 2022, the ongoing contract stipulates that the Philippine Air Force will receive 32 aircraft from Lockheed Martin subsidiary PZL Mielec. This will boost the PAF’s existing fleet of 15 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to 47, enhancing their operational capabilities. The initial five aircraft under this agreement were delivered in June 2024; and an additional five were provided in December 2024. The remaining aircraft will be supplied over the coming two years.
Lockheed Martin is bolstering its presence in the Philippines by expanding operations, collaborating with local industries, and setting up an in-country office in Manila. In September 2024, Lockheed Martin designated Asian Aerospace as the official original equipment manufacturer (OEM) authorized distributor of Sikorsky spare parts and maintenance services for the Black Hawk helicopter series in the Philippines. This ensures OEM-certified, high-quality components are available to customers to support their rapidly expanding fleet and provides a dedicated resource for dependable assistance.
