The Philippine government had sealed an agreement to acquire two anti-submarine helicopters for the Philippine Navy according to the confirmation made by a Defense Department official. According to the official, the Anglo-Italian AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopters will be delivered in a little over a year.
Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo confirmed the latest development in the Armed Forces of the Philippines particularly the need for the Philippines to acquire the anti-submarine helicopter, but the official did not disclose the total cost of the project.
However, a source from The Diplomat revealed that the contract price under the DND’s Anti-Submarine Helicopter Acquisition Project was worth $114 million. The Department of National Defense (DND) awarded Anglo-Italian manufacturer Finmeccanica’s Helicopter Sector — known previously as Agusta Westland Helicopters.
The announcement of the Defense official was made after President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippines invest in its first ever submarine fleet to help protect its territory in the disputed South China Sea.
Once delivered to the Philippines the anti-submarine helicopter, AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopters will likely be stationed aboard the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and the BRP Ramon Alcaraz.
Based upon the company’s website, the anti-submarine helicopter is “designed to operate from the smallest helicopter-capable ship.” The AW159 can be accommodated by even the smallest frigate and offshore patrol vessel and is thus an ideal aircraft for the Philippine Navy given the smaller size of its surface warships in comparison to the ships of other navies in the Asia-Pacific region.
