October 25, 2012
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| The Philippine Navy is acquiring 5 AW 109 naval version choppers for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. |
The Department of National
Defense (DND) is acquiring five naval helicopters from Agusta
Westland to boost the Navy’s
maritime security and disaster response capabilities.
The AW109KN version will be stationed on all frigate vessels acquired recently by the Philippine government, BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz. The navy acquired from the United States (US) two Hamilton Class Coast Guard Cutters and converted it to frigate warships to patrol its maritime area. Two more missile-armed Maestrale Class frigates from Italy are expected to join the Philippine Navy starting next year. The other ASW choppers will be assigned to the Italian-Maestrale class frigates when they arrive in 2013.
DND Assistant Secretary Ernesto Boac said the project costs P2.2 billion and would be funded by the Armed Forces modernization program and the Department of Energy.
“The helicopters will improve the capabilities of the Navy. These will be used for maritime security, internal security operations and disaster response,” Boac said.
The fuselages of AW109 are made by PZL-Ĺwidnik, the same company that manufactured the Sokol helicopters of the Philippine Air Force.
The first batch of AW 109 helicopters is scheduled to arrive on Oct. 17, 2013 and delivery is expected to be completed by Dec. 17, 2013.
The AW109KN version will be stationed on all frigate vessels acquired recently by the Philippine government, BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz. The navy acquired from the United States (US) two Hamilton Class Coast Guard Cutters and converted it to frigate warships to patrol its maritime area. Two more missile-armed Maestrale Class frigates from Italy are expected to join the Philippine Navy starting next year. The other ASW choppers will be assigned to the Italian-Maestrale class frigates when they arrive in 2013.
DND Assistant Secretary Ernesto Boac said the project costs P2.2 billion and would be funded by the Armed Forces modernization program and the Department of Energy.
“The helicopters will improve the capabilities of the Navy. These will be used for maritime security, internal security operations and disaster response,” Boac said.
The fuselages of AW109 are made by PZL-Ĺwidnik, the same company that manufactured the Sokol helicopters of the Philippine Air Force.
The first batch of AW 109 helicopters is scheduled to arrive on Oct. 17, 2013 and delivery is expected to be completed by Dec. 17, 2013.
The contract for the acquisition of three AW109 naval helicopters was signed at the Department of National Defense last December 20, 2012 with a contract price of PhP 1, 3337,176,584.00.
ReplyDeleteThe purchase agreement was signed between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and supplier AugustaWestland S.P.A, under negotiated procurement process through Section 53.2 (Emergency Procurement) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. 9184.
On November 28, 2012, AugustaWestland was declared by the Naval Helicopter Acquisition Project (NHAP) Negotiating Committee as the single calculated and responsive proponent after going through the process of a negotiated procurement.
The Italian Ministerio Della Difesa previously conducted review of AugustaWestland’s proposal for the procurement of AW 109 Power Helicopter, including related logistic support and found out that the price per helicopter “seems to have been progressively reduced”.
Upon the recommendation of the DND Bids and Awards Committee, the Secretary of National Defense issued a notice of award last December 4, 2012.
http://www.dnd.gov.ph/
I guess another contract will have to be sign soon for the additional 2 AW-109 helicopters from Augusta Westland ...
ReplyDeleteDND has confirmed that another contract for 2 AW-109 would be signed separately.
ReplyDeleteThis AW109 also no armaments even the anti submarine devise also not included so what is the use of this chopper for disaster response again, Mr. Gazmin said he is looking for the anti submarine device to fixed to this three Naval helis why need to purchase this kind of chopper if cannot use for submarin tracking and being warfare helis . i cannot get the idea what really the intention of AFP to purchase this helicopters.
ReplyDelete