The United States has delivered two additional Bell 412EPX utility helicopters to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) during a handover ceremony at Villamor Air Base in Pasay.
The delivery represents the second batch under the Philippine military’s Additional Utility Helicopter Project, which involves the acquisition of eight rotary-wing aircraft from US manufacturer Bell Textron.
The PAF received the first two helicopters under the program in May, increasing its total fleet of Bell 412 helicopters to 18 aircraft.
According to Manila, the newly inducted twin-engine helicopters will be assigned to the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing. The aircraft are expected to strengthen air mobility, troop and personnel transport, and humanitarian assistance operations, particularly in remote areas of the Philippines.
During the induction ceremony, Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura called on personnel operating and maintaining the helicopters to uphold “professionalism, competence, and accountability” to ensure the platforms deliver their intended capabilities.
The Philippine Air Force currently operates multiple variants of the Bell 412 alongside a fleet of 47 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, giving the country one of Southeast Asia’s largest tactical rotary-wing fleets.
Deliveries of the remaining aircraft under the Bell 412EPX procurement contract are scheduled to be completed by 2027.
Bell 412EPX Capabilities
The Bell 412EPX, co-developed with Subaru, measures approximately 56 feet (17 meters) in length and features a rotor diameter of 46 feet (14 meters).
The utility helicopter can accommodate up to 15 occupants and is equipped with a specialized external cargo hook capable of carrying payloads of up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms).
With a maximum gross weight of approximately 13,000 pounds (5,897 kilograms), the helicopter carries up to 331 gallons (1,253 liters) of fuel. Its propulsion system consists of two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-9 Twin-Pac engines, each producing 1,122 horsepower.
The Bell 412EPX can reach a maximum speed of 140 knots (161 mph/259 km/h), has a service ceiling of 20,000 feet (6,096 meters), and provides an operational radius of approximately 361 nautical miles (415 miles/669 km).
