West PH Sea: PAF eyeing Black Hawk choppers’ upgrade for longer mission

Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura, PAF commander, and Maj. Gen. Ramil G Oloroso PAF, head of the Air Mobility Command, lead the ceremonial pouring of champagne at the five newly acquired S-70i Black Hawk helicopters on August 13, 2025 at Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga. (PHOTO FROM THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is looking to upgrade the endurance capability of its S-70i Black Hawk choppers that would make it more capable of conducting missions in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

PAF spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo said the installation of auxiliary tanks that would provide additional fuel capacity may be carried out.

Castillo announced the development during the formal acceptance turnover and blessing ceremony of the five new Black Hawk helicopters at the Haribon Hangar of the Clark Air Base in Pampanga, which was led by PAF commanding general Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura.

“Eventually, once they have auxiliary tanks, it will have longer endurance, meaning they could fly longer,” Castillo said in an interview in Filipino.

Castillo noted that once the auxiliary tanks are installed, Black Hawks could fly from Palawan towards the areas in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

“Once equipped with auxiliary tanks, it can assist in reconnaissance and surveillance of our areas,” Castillo said.

“At the same time, if we need to resupply troops or if we need medical evacuation in these areas, it can easily do that.”

More Black Hawks to arrive 

Aside from the existing 30 Black Hawks, another 17 are expected to arrive in the coming years, according to Castillo.

According to Castillo, 10 of the choppers will arrive in this year’s last quarter, while seven more will arrive in the middle of 2026.

The government earmarked P32 billion to purchase the new helicopters manufactured by Polish-aerospace PZL Mielec, a subsidiary of American firm Lockheed Martin.

In his speech, Cordura said, “With the nature of the missions we fly, I think the face of the PAF right now is the Black Hawk.”

“The platform has demonstrated brilliance in our operations — it served our purpose right,” Cordura added. /gsg