Lockheed Martin announced today the delivery of five new Black Hawk helicopters to the Philippine Air Force. This milestone contributes to the continued modernization of the country’s defense capabilities and solidifies its position as a key member of the global fleet of Black Hawk operators.
“The Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter’s proven track record of enhancing interoperability and joint readiness, demonstrated in exercises such as Cope Thunder 2025, will continue to drive cooperation and common ground between the United States and the Philippines.“, said Bill Blair, vice president and regional executive director of Lockheed Martin for Asia and India.”The Black Hawk helicopter’s versatility in disaster response, humanitarian relief, and infrastructure protection has been instrumental in enhancing national resilience and progress, and we are committed to supporting the Philippine Air Force in its mission to protect and serve the Filipino people..
For example, in exercises conducted in April, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) used its Black Hawks as part of a joint training exercise conducted by the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing in coordination with the Philippine Navy aboard the BRP Davao del Sur. In May, the PAF and the United States Air Force completed the joint exercise Cope Thunder Philippines, which involved aircraft from both fleets. The PAF S-70i Black Hawks were part of a comprehensive program of flight exercises and field training.
Also in operations in the Philippines, the Air Force has used these reliable Black Hawks to regularly transport relief items and essential supplies to disaster-stricken areas, as recently occurred during Super Typhoon Ofel, which hit Cagayan province in November. The aircraft were used for rapid damage assessments in areas severely affected by these typhoons.
The versatile Black Hawks, configurable for a variety of missions, including firefighting, responded to a large fire that broke out in Tondo, Manila, in November. The Philippine Air Force deployed several aircraft, including Black Hawks, to conduct helibucket operations, completing 15 sorties.
The delivery of these five new Black Hawk helicopters reinforces Lockheed Martin’s commitment to supporting the Philippine Air Force and contributing to the country’s defense and security capabilities.
