Refurbished UH-1 Helicopter Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force
The Department of National Defense (DND) has raised a requirement for the acquisition of 21 refurbished UH-1 Huey combat utility helicopters, which would help bridge the capability gap in providing tactical logistics and transport requirements of the Philippine Air Force, while it builds up its fleet with new helicopters.
Due to the lack of available funding for the procurement of numerous new combat utility helicopters, the DND has decided to include the acquisition of refurbished helicopters to give the PAF the numbers it require with the limited funding available.
This would allow the PAF to meet its short to medium-term capability requirements, as it await for more funding to allow for the procurement of brand new combat utility helicopters that will ultimately replace the Bell UH-1 Huey fleet.
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| The Dornier UH-1D Super Delta upgraded version while undergoing flight testing at Clark Air Base, Pampanga. The Fastfin system is visible from this angle. Photo by Tim Q. Maceren, taken from his FB page. |
Project Summary:
Refurbished UH-1 Helicopter Acquisition Project:
Note: Edited as of 10 November 2024.
* End User: Philippine Air Force (205th Tactical Helicopter Wing)
* Quantity: 21 UH-1 Huey combat utility helicopters
* Modernization Phase: Capability Upgrade Program of the AFP Modernization Program (RA 7898)
* Project ABC: Php1,264,980,000.00
* Acquisition Mode: Negotiated Procurement after two failed Public Bidding attempts
* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund
* SARO Release: TBC
* Winning Proponent: Rice Aircraft Services (USA) - Eaglecopter (Canada) Joint Venture
* Product for Delivery: 13 UH-1D Delta Huey and 8 UH-1D Super Delta Huey combat utility helicopters
* Contract Price: Php1,263,600,000.00
* Residual Amount: Php1,320,000.00
* First post by MaxDefense: 29 December 2023
* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PAFRefurbishedUH1Acquisition
* Deliver Status: Involves overhaul and upgrade initially planned for procurement through Public Bidding, but shifted to Negotiated Procurement. Project awarded to the Joint Venture of Rice Aviation Services and Eaglecopter in 2013, with the delivery of 21 helicopters expected to be completed by late 2014. The proponent failed to delivery all 21 helicopters by April 2015, which prompted the DND to cancel the contract and only accept 13 helicopters that have completed acceptance by the PAF. PROJECT PARTIALLY COMPLETED.
Reports surfaced that the helicopters did not come with night vision goggle-compatible cockpits, and did not have self-sealing fuel tanks. But these were countered by the PAF's test pilots saying that the helicopters performed well and met their technical requirements.
It remains to be seen what are the facts, although in the end the DND's decision to cancel the contract prevailed, and the remaining 8 UH-1D helicopters were not delivered to the PAF and remained in the hands of Rice Aviation Services.
All 13 accepted helicopters were assigned with the PAF's 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing.
Unfortunately, the helicopters were involved in serious accidents during its short service with the PAF. 2 units were involved in separate incidents, crashing and lost. A 3rd incident on July 2020 grounded the entire fleet of UH-1D helicopters, and ultimately the Philippine Air Force decided to retire the fleet by 13 October 2021.
According to PAF sources who were able to talk to our parent page MaxDefense Philippines, all 10 remaining helicopters were in good working order when retired, and were placed in reserve, considering the PAF was still operating a few upgraded UH-1H Super Huey and Huey II combat utility and rescue helicopters.
Note: Edited as of 10 November 2024.
* End User: Philippine Air Force (205th Tactical Helicopter Wing)
* Quantity: 21 UH-1 Huey combat utility helicopters
* Modernization Phase: Capability Upgrade Program of the AFP Modernization Program (RA 7898)
* Project ABC: Php1,264,980,000.00
* Acquisition Mode: Negotiated Procurement after two failed Public Bidding attempts
* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund
* SARO Release: TBC
* Winning Proponent: Rice Aircraft Services (USA) - Eaglecopter (Canada) Joint Venture
* Product for Delivery: 13 UH-1D Delta Huey and 8 UH-1D Super Delta Huey combat utility helicopters
* Contract Price: Php1,263,600,000.00
* Residual Amount: Php1,320,000.00
* First post by MaxDefense: 29 December 2023
* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PAFRefurbishedUH1Acquisition
* Deliver Status: Involves overhaul and upgrade initially planned for procurement through Public Bidding, but shifted to Negotiated Procurement. Project awarded to the Joint Venture of Rice Aviation Services and Eaglecopter in 2013, with the delivery of 21 helicopters expected to be completed by late 2014. The proponent failed to delivery all 21 helicopters by April 2015, which prompted the DND to cancel the contract and only accept 13 helicopters that have completed acceptance by the PAF. PROJECT PARTIALLY COMPLETED.
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| One of the UH-1D delivered by Rice Aircraft Services undergoing testing at Clark Air Base. Photo taken by Tim Q. Maceren, taken from his FB page. |
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Overview:
Videos below show the helicopters prior to delivery to the Philippine Air Force:
During tests in the US prior to delivery to the Philippines:
During pre-acceptance testing at Clark Airbase, Pampanga:
Rice Aviation Services opted to supply the Philippine Air Force with former German Bundeswehr Bell-Dornier UH-1D Delta Huey combat utility helicopters, which will be refurbished and upgraded as part of the contract.
Germany was also able to acquire a license to build the Bell UH-1 helicopter by Dornier Flugzeugwerke. This would later be called the Dornier UH-1D, and in spite of having the "D" series label, is actually standard UH-1H. According to online sources, more than 350 units were built from 1967 to 1981,and majority have undergone Service Life Extension Program and upgraded avionics for night capability.
13 units will be standard UH-1D Delta Hueys, while 8 units will be upgraded to UH-1D Super Delta Hueys, which is said to be almost similar to the Huey II the PAF is already operating. It features a more powerful engine, a fastfin system, night vision goggle-compatible cockpit, and other features not present on the standard UH-1D or UH-1H.
All helicopters are expected to be delivered by late 2014.
By April 2015, the Rice Aviation Services - Eaglecopter JV has failed to deliver all 21 units, with only 7 units, which prompted the DND to cancel the contract and only accept the helicopters already accepted by the PAF.
But our parent page MaxDefense Philippines received confirmation directly from Rice Aviation Services and confirmed by PAF sources that a total of 13 helicopters were actually delivered and accepted, as 5 helicopters were already in the acceptance stage by the time the contract was cancelled.
The 13 helicopters are composed of 9 standard UH-1D Delta Huey and 4 UH-1D Super Delta Hueys delivered to the Philippine Air Force.
Overview:
This project was specifically for the acquisition of 21 refurbished UH-1 helicopters for the Philippine Air Force. 13 units will be standard models, while 8 will be upgraded models. All are expected to be used and refurbished by the winning bidder before delivery.
The PAF decided to acquire more UH-1 helicopters as funding to acquire new helicopters are scarce, with the government only providing enough to acquire 8 new combat utility helicopters from 2013 until 2017. With only a budget of more than Php1.2 billion, the acquisition of more UH-1, being the PAF's premier combat utility helicopter model, was still found to be the best solution
This is because despite its age, it was believed by the Philippine Air Force that the platform still have potential for effective use for another 10 to 15 years after proper maintenance and continued refurbishing and modernization.
This is because despite its age, it was believed by the Philippine Air Force that the platform still have potential for effective use for another 10 to 15 years after proper maintenance and continued refurbishing and modernization.
Aside from this, there is an urgent need to beef up the helicopter fleet as many of the PAF's UH-1H helicopters have not entered refurbishing works and modernization, ending up as non-flying assets after reaching a certain period.
Although there are plans to refurbish current PAF helicopters, it might take long before this can fully take place. Acquiring readily available units is still considered the fastest way to acquire additional assets.
Although there are plans to refurbish current PAF helicopters, it might take long before this can fully take place. Acquiring readily available units is still considered the fastest way to acquire additional assets.
Originally the project was being procured through Public Bidding, opening the tender to several foreign and local-based companies specializing in the UH-1 Huey family of helicopters.
But two failed public biddings pushed the Department of National Defense to start Negotiated Procurement process with proponents, which includes the Joint Venture of American company Rice Aviation Services and Canadian company Eaglecopter, and Israeli company Radom Aviation Systems Ltd.
The Joint Venture of Rice Aviation Services and Eaglecopter was selected by the DND, which underwent and passed the necessary pre-contract requirements before awarded the project in 2013.
But two failed public biddings pushed the Department of National Defense to start Negotiated Procurement process with proponents, which includes the Joint Venture of American company Rice Aviation Services and Canadian company Eaglecopter, and Israeli company Radom Aviation Systems Ltd.
The Joint Venture of Rice Aviation Services and Eaglecopter was selected by the DND, which underwent and passed the necessary pre-contract requirements before awarded the project in 2013.
Videos below show the helicopters prior to delivery to the Philippine Air Force:
During tests in the US prior to delivery to the Philippines:
During pre-acceptance testing at Clark Airbase, Pampanga:
Rice Aviation Services opted to supply the Philippine Air Force with former German Bundeswehr Bell-Dornier UH-1D Delta Huey combat utility helicopters, which will be refurbished and upgraded as part of the contract.
Germany was also able to acquire a license to build the Bell UH-1 helicopter by Dornier Flugzeugwerke. This would later be called the Dornier UH-1D, and in spite of having the "D" series label, is actually standard UH-1H. According to online sources, more than 350 units were built from 1967 to 1981,and majority have undergone Service Life Extension Program and upgraded avionics for night capability.
13 units will be standard UH-1D Delta Hueys, while 8 units will be upgraded to UH-1D Super Delta Hueys, which is said to be almost similar to the Huey II the PAF is already operating. It features a more powerful engine, a fastfin system, night vision goggle-compatible cockpit, and other features not present on the standard UH-1D or UH-1H.
All helicopters are expected to be delivered by late 2014.
By April 2015, the Rice Aviation Services - Eaglecopter JV has failed to deliver all 21 units, with only 7 units, which prompted the DND to cancel the contract and only accept the helicopters already accepted by the PAF.
But our parent page MaxDefense Philippines received confirmation directly from Rice Aviation Services and confirmed by PAF sources that a total of 13 helicopters were actually delivered and accepted, as 5 helicopters were already in the acceptance stage by the time the contract was cancelled.
The 13 helicopters are composed of 9 standard UH-1D Delta Huey and 4 UH-1D Super Delta Hueys delivered to the Philippine Air Force.
 |
| A UH-1D undergoing testing at Clark Air Base. Note the fastfin installed at the tail end of the helicopter. This could be one of the UH-1D Super Delta, which is an upgraded version of the UH-1D. Photo taken by Tim Q. Maceren, taken from his FB page. |
Rice Aviation Services tried to overturn the decision, claiming the 8 other helicopters are already in Clark and are in different levels of pre-acceptance by the PAF.
Reports surfaced that the helicopters did not come with night vision goggle-compatible cockpits, and did not have self-sealing fuel tanks. But these were countered by the PAF's test pilots saying that the helicopters performed well and met their technical requirements.
It remains to be seen what are the facts, although in the end the DND's decision to cancel the contract prevailed, and the remaining 8 UH-1D helicopters were not delivered to the PAF and remained in the hands of Rice Aviation Services.
All 13 accepted helicopters were assigned with the PAF's 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing.
Unfortunately, the helicopters were involved in serious accidents during its short service with the PAF. 2 units were involved in separate incidents, crashing and lost. A 3rd incident on July 2020 grounded the entire fleet of UH-1D helicopters, and ultimately the Philippine Air Force decided to retire the fleet by 13 October 2021.
According to PAF sources who were able to talk to our parent page MaxDefense Philippines, all 10 remaining helicopters were in good working order when retired, and were placed in reserve, considering the PAF was still operating a few upgraded UH-1H Super Huey and Huey II combat utility and rescue helicopters.
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U P D A T E S:
U P D A T E S:
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14 July 2015
The Philippine Air Force conducted demonstration flights with the media using the controversial Dornier UH-1D Huey helicopters it bought from Rice Aircraft Services Inc. to show to them that the aircraft are airworthy despite claims by a whistleblower that they are sitting in hangars due to problems.
14 July 2015
The Philippine Air Force conducted demonstration flights with the media using the controversial Dornier UH-1D Huey helicopters it bought from Rice Aircraft Services Inc. to show to them that the aircraft are airworthy despite claims by a whistleblower that they are sitting in hangars due to problems.
They brought in 2 Bell UH-1H also to let the media see the similarities and differences of the 2 models, aside from letting to ride the helicopters around the city.
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| All photo credits to the Philippine Air Force. |
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With 13 Bell-Dornier UH-1D Delta Huey and Super Delta Huey combat utility helicopters delivered to the Philippine Air Force as of April 2015, MaxDefense and Philippine Defense Resource officially consider the MD-520MG Upgrade Project of the Philippine Air Force as COMPLETED.
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First edit and release: 10 November 2024
Copyright Philippine Defense Resource / MaxDefense Philippines
First edit and release: 10 November 2024
Copyright Philippine Defense Resource / MaxDefense Philippines
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