THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) formally accepted and conducted the blessing of two newly acquired Bell 412EPX helicopters on September 15 in a ceremony held at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base. The ceremony attended by PAF Commanding General Lieutenant General Arthur M Cordura marks the formal acceptance of the second batch of aircraft under the PAF’s Additional Utility Helicopter Project which involves the procurement of eight Bell 412EPX helicopters from Bell Textron Inc. with all deliveries expected to be completed in the near future.
“These newly acquired assets are expected to significantly enhance the PAF’s operational capabilities, specifically in the areas of air mobility and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations”, a PAF statement read. In his speech, Lt Gen Cordura stressed the necessity of diligent care and strategic employment of the helicopters, urging all personnel involved in the operation and maintenance of the aircraft to embody professionalism, competence, and accountability, ensuring that these assets are maximised to fulfil the PAF’s organisational mandate.
Earlier in May, the PAF officially accepted its first batch of two new Bell 412EPX helicopters as the first significant milestone in the ongoing modernisation and capability enhancement efforts of the PAF. The two helicopters arrived in the country before February ended, representing the first batch delivery under the Additional Utility Helicopter Acquisition Project.
The helicopters are expected to significantly enhance the PAF’s tactical helilift and multi-mission operational capabilities, primarily supporting troop transport for counterinsurgency and internal security operations, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions during calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes, as well as medical evacuation and logistics support in geographically isolated and remote areas. With the addition of these new aircraft, the PAF now operates a total fleet of 18 Bell 412 helicopters, further strengthening its capability to conduct rapid deployment and sustain critical operations nationwide.-–shp/adj/dl (Pix:PAF)
