Philippine Army to Recieve Japanese Helicopter Donation
The Philippines will receive donated Japanese utility helicopters for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The transfer of equipment was announced during the first-ever Japan-Philippine-United States Trilateral Key Leaders’ Engagement, where Chiefs of the Philippine and Japanese armies met. These helicopters will bring a significant boost to the Philippine Army, which has been striving for its own helicopter unit. This is also the latest development in 2022’s Philippine-Japanese defense relations, which have been deepening at a brisk rate.
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force committed to a grant that will transfer an undisclosed number of UH-1J Huey helicopters in a side meeting between the PA and JGSDF during the Trilateral Key Leaders’ Engagement. The grant of utility helicopters is specifically focused on improving the PA’s aerial HADR capabilities, which are lacking compared to other services in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Traditionally, aerial HADR efforts have been led by the Philippine Air Force and its fleet of helicopters.
These helicopters are a Japanese-built and modified version of the UH-1H, which the PAF operated. In 2018, the Philippines received Japanese-donated parts for the PAF’s UH-1H fleet. These spares marked the first time Japan transferred excess defense equipment to an ASEAN state. However, since then the PAF has officially retired all UH-1 variants.
Philippine defense commentator MaxDefense noted that the Japanese Hueys will be of a more recent manufacture date compared to the PAF’s Hueys. MaxDefense also highlights the PA’s potential interest in pursuing a purchase of Japanese utility helicopters, such as the Subaru-Bell UH-2, instead of the Polish Blackhawks that have been acquired by the PAF.
These helicopters will be inducted into the PA’s Army Aviation “Hiraya” Regiment. The unit was activated in 2019 under PA modernization efforts, with the overall goal of creating an organic helicopter capability within the PA. As of now, the unit maintains a small collection of aircraft. Mostly in the form of trainers and donated utility helicopters. The utility helicopters are expected to be in Philippine service within the next two to three years.
Japan and the Philippines maintain a robust and ever-deepening security relationship, with equipment transfers and cooperation between the two countries increased over the last few years. From patrol vessels to air defense radars, the Philippines received substantial Japanese defense and security equipment in 2022. Japan has also participated in several major exercises in the Philippines, such as KAMANDAG 6 and even deploying F-15J fighter jets for the first time in Exercise Pareho-22.
(Cover Image Courtesty of JGSDF Aviation School Akeno)