The Marcos administration is “100 percent” committed to modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Friday as the government formally received five new S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
Speaking at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City during the acceptance and blessing ceremony, Pangandaman stressed that the administration remains determined to equip frontline defenders with the tools needed to protect the country.
“Under the steadfast leadership of your Commander-in-Chief, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Budget and Management reaffirms our commitment to modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including our Air Force,” she said. “You can also be assured of our 100 percent support for the continuous capability enhancement and modernization program of the AFP.”
Pangandaman said the Black Hawks are not just military assets but life-saving tools vital during crises, emergencies, and disaster recovery, noting their ability to reach far-flung, hazard-prone communities.
She emphasized that each unit symbolizes the Philippines’ resolve to defend its sovereignty while ensuring the safety of all Filipinos.
The newly delivered helicopters form part of the 32-unit Additional Utility Helicopter Acquisition Project. Five more units are expected to arrive in December 2025, and the final seven by the second quarter of 2026.
The S-70i Black Hawk, known for its reliability and versatility, is built for both military and humanitarian missions. Pangandaman said the helicopters will bolster operations such as medical evacuations, airlifting relief goods, rapid troop deployment, aerial surveillance, combat search and rescue, and disaster response — including firefighting using heli-buckets.
She added that the new units will help ensure faster rescues, quicker delivery of aid, safer medical transport, and more lives saved during earthquakes, landslides, typhoons, and security threats.
