Search and Rescue Helicopters Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force

 As part of efforts to modernize the Philippine Air Force's overall capabilities in support of national development and provide assistance in both peacetime and combat operations, a requirement for new Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters was raised as part of the 2nd List of Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

This resource page discusses the Search and Rescue Helicopters Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force, and will try to keep information as the project progresses.

A MH-60 Jayhawk of the US Coast Guard, which is part of the Black Hawk family and used mostly for Search and Rescue. Photo for reference only, credits to Vintage Aviation News.

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Project Summary:

Search and Rescue Helicopters Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 31 December 2023..

* End User: Philippine Air Force (505th Search and Rescue Group)

* Quantity: 3 units

* Modernization Phase: originally Horizon 2 Phase of RAFPMP, to be moved to Re-Horizon 3 Phase.

* Project ABC: approx. US$67,817,540.00 (~Php3,730,000,000.00)

* Acquisition Mode: TBC

* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund

* SARO Release/s: None yet, TBA

* Winning Proponent: TBA

* Product for Delivery: TBA

* Contract Price: TBA

* Residual Amount: TBA

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PAFSARHAcquisition 

* Status: The DND has released an Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) in 2021, awaiting for funding approval by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as of August 2022. but no funding has been released as of March 2023. Most likely to be moved to Horizon 3 Phase. Funding has not been released as of December 2023.

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Overview:

The Philippine Air Force's 505th Search and Rescue Group (505th SARG) is one of the most important air units of the service, being one of the highlights of interaction between the Filipino soldier and the common Filipino in need of help during disasters, accidents, and emergencies.

By means of air rescue remains the fastest and most efficient way of conducting search and rescue operations, and is tied to the PAF being the government's largest air service agency.

But underfunding through the years has placed the Search and Rescue capability of the PAF at the backburner due to prioritization of assets for combat and transport roles which to be fair are equally underfunded over the years as well.

Currently, the 505th SARG have been operating old Bell 205 helicopters, which are civilian versions of the equally old Bell UH-1 Huey combat utility helicopters. And while it has been given a boost in the past few years by adding a few PZL Swidnik W-3A Sokol helicopters and the sole Sikorsky S-70A-5 Black Hawk helicopter, these are not enough for the unit to provide Search and Rescue around the country.

One of the PAF's W-3A Sokol combat utility helicopter, seen here in 2013 converted to a Search and Rescue helicopter. Photo credits to Col. Francis Neri PAF.

This has become even more evident when the PAF decided to retire its fleet of UH-1 Huey helicopters, in which the Bell 205A is considered a part of. And this left the 505th SARG with only a few helicopters for it to spread across the country.

There have been previous plans to procure Search and Rescue helicopters but these have always been delayed or placed at the backburner due to funding issues. But it now appears that the PAF is pushing hard for the procurement of a few new helicopters for the role.

Based on documents from the DND and PAF, the Search and Rescue Helicopter Acquisition Project has raised a requirement for at least 3 new SAR helicopters. So far, our parent page MaxDefense Philippines was able to confirm that Sikorsky, Bell and Leonardo Helicopters have made pitches of their offer to meet this requirement.

Sikorsky was said to have offered a SAR variant of the S-70i Black Hawk helicopter, while Leonardo has offered a SAR variant of their AW139M helicopter.

The Leonardo AW139 in SAR variant, this unit operated by the Swedish Sjöfartsverket. Photo credits to VerticalMag.

It remains to be seen what Bell offered exactly, but it is highly possible that it is a variant of their Bell 412 helicopter, which is already in service with the PAF.

As of August 2022, it appears that no funding has been released yet for this project by the national government, although it was flagged by the DND to be of utmost importance due to the expected contribution of new SAR helicopters during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

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U P D A T E S:
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23 March 2023:

No funding has been released as of this writing, which may be a reason for the DND and the government to move the project to Horizon 3 phase as the Horizon 2 phase has ended on 01 January 2023. 

So far there are also no updates regarding the project.

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31 December 2023:

As of this writing, no funding has been released for this project.

It is assumed that the project is moved to the Re-Horizon 3 phase, although we are yet to see the finalised shopping list submitted to Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier this month if it includes this project.

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First edit and release: 15 August 2022
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource

Additional Attack Helicopter (Attack Helicopter Phase 3) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force

With the successful deal between the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) and the Turkish Ministry of Defense (MOD) for the procurement of T129B ATAK attack helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the Philippine Air Force (PAF), it is logical for additional orders to be made instead of purchasing another batch of attack helicopters from another manufacturer.

In this resource page, we will discuss the planned acquisition of additional T129B ATAK attack helicopters to complement the original 6 units being acquired under an earlier project.

It remains to be seen if this would be classified as part of the 2nd List of Horizon 2, or will be pushed back to Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

All photos credited to DND.

Project Summary:

Additional Attack Helicopter (Attack Helicopter Phase 3) Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 15 December 2023.

* End User: Philippine Air Force (15th Strike Wing)

* Quantity: at least 6 units, could be up to 18 helicopters depending on government's capability to provide funding.

* Modernization Phase: 2nd List of Horizon 2 Phase of RAFPMP, to be moved to Re-Horizon 3 Phase.

* Project ABC: at least approx. US$274,560,000.00 (Php15,200,000,000.00), could be more depending on government's capability.

* Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government deal with Turkish Ministry of Defense.

* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund, to be paid via Multi-Year Obligation Authority (MYOA) process.

* SARO Release/s: None yet, TBC

* Winning Proponent: Expected to be follow-on with Turkish Aerospace Industries

* Product for Delivery: at least 6 units T129B ATAK attack helicopters, plus ILS and technical support and training.

* Contract Price: None yet, TBC

* Residual Amount: None yet, TBC

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PAFAdditionalAHAcquisition #PAFAHPhase3Acquisition

* Status: This project is a follow-on to earlier Attack Helicopter (Phase 2) Acquisition Project, with negotiations with Turkey and TAI already happening as part of the Phase 2 project. Funding is being secured as of August 2022, but none released as of December 2022. Project is being planned to be moved to Re-Horizon 3 phase after procurement process did not reach contracting stage by the end of Horizon 2 phase on December 2022.


Overview:

The Department of National Defense (DND) successfully concluded a contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) with assistance from the Turkish Ministry of Defense (MOD) for the sale of 6 T129B ATAK attack helicopters under the Attack Helicopter (Phase 2) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Due to the limited budget, only 6 helicopters were acquired, considering that the budget was actually enough for the acquisition of up to 24 light armed helicopters as originally envisioned.

One of the T129B ATAK attack helicopters during tests in Turkey, part of the first 6 units acquired under the Attack Helicopter (Phase 2) Acquisition Project. Photo credits to former CGPAF Lt.Gen. Allen Paredes' FB page.

It would be remembered that the Attack Helicopter (Phase 1) Acquisition Project involved the acquisition of 8 AgustaWestland AW109E Power light armed helicopters, and the original plan was to acquire another 24 units to completely replace the ageing McDonnell Douglas MD520MG Defender light armed helicopters of the PAF's 15th Strike Wing.

But 6 attack helicopters, regardless if they are more capable than the AW109E Power light armed helicopters, are still not enough both in terms of quantity and firepower delivery. It is also quantitatively not enough for form a complete squadron.

With this, a separate project to acquire at least 6 more helicopters was formed, with funding being requested from the national government, while negotiations were made with Turkey to allow for the sale of additional T129B attack helicopters at a price not too far off from the original project.

It is logical to procure additional T129B ATAK attack helicopters rather than procuring another type of helicopter, and despite offers made by American and European companies, the DND and PAF are expected to stick with the T129B.

As of August 2022, our parent page MaxDefense Philippines confirmed that budget request has already been made by the DND as early as before the end of former President Rodrigo Duterte's term, although it remains to be seen if the government under new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would support the planned acquisition.

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U P D A T E S:
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15 December 2023:

No funding has been released as of 15 December 2023, with the project appearing to be moved to the Re-Horizon 3 Phase of the RAFPMP, subject to confirmation of the final approved shopping list sent this month to the Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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01 January 2024:

The PAF's 15th Strike Wing has confirmed in a document shared to our parent page MaxDefense Philippines that the unit is proposing the acquisition of a new heavy attack helicopter with enhanced survivability in heavily contested airspace, as well as improved lethality and firepower delivery.

So far, it has identified the Boeing AH-64 Apache as a prospect platform, although no specific variant and quantity has been mentioned.

There were also no information provided as to how these would be procured, and to which country would they be sourced. MaxDefense Philippines believe that the aircraft eyed are second-hand units used by either the US Army, or 3rd parties like the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) which is scheduled to retire all their AH-64DJ Apache Longbow in a few years time.

An AH-64DJ Longbow Apache of the JGSDF. Photo credits to Aoki Toshi.

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First edit and release: 15 August 2022
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource