PN to Commission Two Attack AW-109s by May

Two AW-109E will be commissioned in May 2015 (photo : helihub)

MANILA (PNA) -- The two AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" attack helicopters of the Philippine Navy (PN) will be commissioned this coming May.

This was disclosed by PN spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo in a message to the PNA.

"No date of commissioning yet but the target is to be in time or prior the the 117th Navy Day celebrations this coming May," he said.


The PN was founded in May 27, 1898.

At the moment, the Navy's AW-109s is still undergoing Bureau of Customs documentation, duties, and process of inspection.

The two Navy AW-109s, in disassembled condition, arrived last Dec. 28.

It is part of the five helicopter contract signed by the Navy with aircraft manufacturer AgustaWestland last 2013.

The contract is worth Php1.33 billion. The first three units were delivered and commissioned in December 2013.

These AW-109s will be armed with machine guns, 20mm cannons and possibly, with air-to-ground rockets.

The AW-109 "Power" helicopter is a three-ton class eight seat helicopter powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW206C engines.

The spacious cabin is designed to be fitted with a number of modular equipment packages for quick and easy conversion between roles.

The aircraft’s safety features include a fully separated fuel system, dual hydraulic boost system, dual electrical systems and redundant lubrication and cooling systems for the main transmission and engines.

The AW-109 has established itself as the world’s best selling light-twin helicopter for maritime missions.

It's superior speed, capacity and productivity combined with reliability and ease of maintenance make it the most cost effective maritime helicopter in its class.

Over 550 AW-109 "Power" and AW-109 light utility helicopters have been ordered for commercial, parapublic and military applications by customers in almost 50 countries.

(PNA)