- The Philippine Navy is close to acquiring two brand new units of Augusta Westland 159 (AW159)
- The multi-role aircraft was the British Royal Navy and Navy of the Republic of Korea’s preferred military helicopter
- The acquisition process is now on its post-evaluation checks
MANILA, Philippines – Two Augusta Westland AW159 multi-role aircraft will soon join the Philippine Navy’s fleet after the Department of National Defense (DND) announced earlier that its acquisition is in the final evaluation stage.
The Defense department confirmed in January that the proposal from the UK-based manufacturing company is now under post-qualification checks for the acquisition of two AW159 in a contract worth P5.4-billion.
A recent report on the website Defense Update said the acquisition process which began in September 2014 is now nearly in completion and would be finalized this year.
The AW159 (also called the Lynx Wildcat) is the successor to and an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx military aircraft designed for battlefield utility, search and rescue and anti-surface warfare operations. It has an Army and Navy variants.
AW159 was chosen by the British government to replace the Royal Navy’s Westland Lynx helicopters. The Navy of Republic of Korea also ordered 8 units back in 2013.
Like the Philippines, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) is also planning to acquire at least 6 units to be operated from its new Second Generation Patrol Vessel – Littoral Combat Ships (SGPV-LCSs) of the country’s anti-submarine warfare.
The Philippines and Malaysia are both claimants to the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea/ South China Sea; most of which are now under the control of China.
Just recently Beijing has deployed surface-to-air-missiles and fighter jets in the Paracel’s chain Woody Island off the cost of Vietnam; prompting Australia and the United States to call on China’s continued aggression in the contested waters.
In July last year, President Benigno Aquino III approved 25 military projects which include the acquisition of 2 navy frigates worth P18-billion, two C-130 aircraft worth P1.6 billion, lead-in fighter trainer jets ammunition worth P4.47 billion and two naval helicopters worth P5.4 billion as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) ongoing modernization program.
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