The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is anticipating the delivery of 22 Black Hawk helicopters from Polish aerospace manufacturer PZL Mielec beginning this year until 2026.

PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said Air Force personnel who will be tasked to operate the arriving Black Hawks will undergo intense training to ensure they are capable of flying and maintaining them.

“This 2025, we are expecting the arrival of Black Hawk helicopters. This is an ongoing acquisition. We have ordered 32 units and 10 of them arrived so far,” she said in a radio interview over dzBB on Sunday, March 9.

The PAF procured 32 units of Black Hawk from PZL Mielec, a subsidiary of American defense and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The contract was signed in February 2022 worth P32 billion.

The first five units were delivered in June 2024 while the second batch of five came in December of the same year.

“Then 15 units will arrive and another seven within this year until next year,” Castillo said.

“Anytime that there are new equipment arriving, especially those that are not in our inventory, the training of our pilots and maintenance crew is always included in the acquisition process,” she added.

“We always make sure in all aspects that our pilots are well trained as well as the crew who will maintain our air assets because we spend millions and billions for these. Aside from that, what’s more important are the lives of the crew,” she continued.

Vigil for fallen pilots

Meanwhile, the PAF has an ongoing vigil in its headquarters at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for the two FA-50 fighter jet pilots who died during tactical night operations on Mt. Kalatungan in Bukidnon last March 4.

Castillo said details of the interment for Major Jude S. Salang-Oy and First Lieutenant April John B. Dadulla, of the 5^th Fighter Wing, are not yet finalized.

“There is a vigil at the Villamor Air Base but there are plans to transfer it to Basa Air Base [in Floridablanca, Pampanga] to allow their fellow fighter pilots and aircrew to pay their last respects,” she said.

“Nothing is really set for now but by Wednesday, the initial plan is to transport the remains to their respective hometowns,” she added.

The bereaved families of the pilots will be given due claims and benefits including special financial assistance, pension, interment assistance and educational assistance for their children or siblings.

As to the investigation, the PAF said that they will invite representatives from Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. to join the probe.

“The investigation team is on Mt. Kalatungan right now. Accordingly, some witnesses saw an explosion and blinding light in the area. These are unverified and unvalidated but we will make sure to validate these observations,” Castillo said.

“We have experts also who will look at the flight data recorder. But part of the investigation is we will invite the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) which is from South Korea,” she stated.