The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has inducted two new Bell 412EPX aircraft into service at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Philippines, increasing the fleet size to four helicopters.
The first batch of two helicopters was inducted into service earlier in May. The Bell 412EPX helicopters were acquired under the Department of National Defence’s (DND) Additional Utility Helicopters Acquisition Project, part of the Horizon 2 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Programme.
PAF Bell 412EPX helicopters are operated by the PAF’s 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing. A total of eight 412EPXs are on order with deliveries expected to conclude next year. Following the induction of the first two helicopters into service in May, Lieutenant General Arthur M Cordura, Commanding General of the PAF said the addition of the new helicopters would further strengthen the PAF’s capability to conduct rapid deployment and sustain critical operations nationwide.
The Bell 412EPX fleet will enhance the PAF’s operational capabilities related to air mobility, where the type will primarily undertake troop transport for counter-insurgency and internal security operations. The fleet will also be used for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations as well as medical evacuation and logistics support in geographically isolated and remote areas.
With the addition of four new 412EPX helicopters, the PAF’s Bell 412 fleet size has increased to 18. The PAF received its first two Bell 412s in 1994 before adding eight 412EP aircraft in 2015. A December 2017 contract for 16 Bell 412EPI helicopter was cancelled in 2018. The PAF is a longstanding Bell customer, having operated derivations of the Bell UH-1H since the late 1960s.
The Bell 412EPX helicopters complement the PAF’s larger S-70i Black Hawk fleet. Following the induction of seven additional S-70i helicopters in August, the PAF now operates 47 Black Hawks, making it the largest operator of the S-70i.
The Philippine Air Force has built one of Southeast Asia's largest modern tactical helicopter fleets with 18 Bell 412 variants and 47 S-70i Black Hawks in service.
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