PH intends to buy 16 units of Mi-171 helicopters from Russia

PH intends to buy 16 units of Mi-171 helicopters from Russia




The Philippines engagement in Russia does not stop on its ties, under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s independent foreign policy it has expanded in a lot of areas and one evident fact is on the military aspect.

Under the Duterte administration, the Philippines has expressed its willingness to purchase Russian military hardware – the Mi-171 helicopters.


The said purchase has been considered as a ‘priority’ as Undersecretary for finance and materiel at the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND), Raymundo DV Elefante, told the Sputnik, a Russian government-owned news agency.

Russian Mi-171 Medium Helicopter and/or Heavy Helicopter
(photo credit to owner)


Sometime  last April the DND has already made its intention to buy 16 or 17 Russian helicopters.

“It [Mi-171] is a priority; right now we are in the process of procuring it. It’s in initial stages but hopefully, within this year we will be having a commitment for that. There is no signing yet but we intend to do it hopefully within this year,” Elefante said on the sidelines of the ARMY-2019 International Military-Technical Forum held in Moscow.

Maxdefense, made mention of the Russian purchase and it is said to be a direct order from President Duterte.


According to MaxDefense, Pres. Duterte made a pre-condition of approving the acquisition of the 16 Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk only if the DND and Philippine Air Force (PAF) would buy the Russian helicopters for the medium helicopter and/or Heavy Helicopter requirements of the PAF.
The purchase of 16 Black Hawk helicopters made by United States manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft will replace a previous deal for 16 Bell 412 helicopters from Canada.
The planned purchase of military equipment from Russia might open the Philippines being sanctioned by the United States of America because of the law signed by President Donald Trump in 2017.
The 70-page law, called “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act”, or CAATSA, imposed sanctions on the Russian Federation, Iran, North Korea and those who would buy military hardware from them.






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Report from  WPS

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