Philippines to buy US helicopters instead of Russia
(Baonghean.vn) - On December 7, Philippine Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana announced that the country will buy 16 Black Hawk helicopters from US helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky, bypassing cheaper equipment from Russia, due to Washington's sanctions against Moscow's military exports.
The Philippines initially agreed to buy 16 Bell 412 helicopters from Canada, but the deal was terminated in February after Ottawa expressed concerns that the helicopters could be used in the fight against rebels. The Philippines then considered buying a number of other helicopters, including the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk, the Russian Mi-171, and the South Korean AW139.
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| S-70 Black Hawk. Photo: Getty |
Defense Secretary Lorenzana said the Philippine air force will sign a contract to buy 16 Black Hawk helicopters early next year, despite Russia offering the second-lowest price.
“It is very difficult to pay Russia because of the US sanctions,” Lorenzana told reporters at a security forum. The Philippine air force is also looking to buy up to 10 attack helicopters next year.
Last year, US President Donald Trump signed a bill imposing sanctions on Russia over its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, its support for the Syrian government and its alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
US allies, such as the Philippines, that buy weapons and equipment from Russia, the world's second-largest arms exporter, would also be penalized and those arms transfers could be disrupted.
The Philippines is spending 300 billion pesos ($5.6 billion) over the next five years to upgrade its defense capabilities, replacing World War II-era warships and Vietnam War-era fighter jets and helicopters. It has already purchased 12 light fighter jets from South Korea, supply ships from Indonesia, and armored vehicles and ship-launched missiles from Israel.
