Philippines to purchase 32 Black Hawk helicopters due to tensions with China

Manila/Warsaw: – Philippines has accelerated the modernisation of its defence forces given the hegemonic Chinese activities in the South China Sea. On Tuesday, the Philippines signed an agreement with Poland to purchase 32 Black Hawk helicopters. This is the third extensive defence agreement signed by the Philippines in the last four months. Earlier, the Philippines had signed contracts to purchase warships and supersonic missiles.

Philippine Defence Minister Delphin Lorenzana and Janusz Zakrecki, president of Poland-based aerospace manufacturer PZL Mielec signed the agreement. PZL Mielec is s subsidiary of the US defence giant Lockheed Martin. Philippine sources informed that the deal is worth nearly $624 million. It is the second agreement signed by the Philippines for Black Hawk helicopters in the last two years. Before this, in 2019, an agreement was signed for 16 helicopters. The helicopters purchased under this agreement are already operational in the Philippine air force. The Philippines informed that as per the new agreement, the supply of helicopters would start from the next year and all the helicopters will join the Philippine air force by 2026.

Moreover, the agreement for Black Hawk helicopters is considered a part of the campaign to modernise defence forces, started by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018. The program was sanctioned against the background of the rising Chinese threat. A $5 billion provision was made to modernise defence forces between 2018 and 2022.

Moreover, it was decided upon to use the fund to purchase new fighter jets, warships, submarines, destroyers, drones and advanced weapon systems for the defence forces. Over the last four months, the Philippines has signed agreements with South Korea and India to supply destroyers and supersonic missiles, respectively. The main reason behind these purchases has been the hegemonic Chinese activities in the South China Sea.

The tensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea are seen to be escalating further. Last year, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had criticised China during the meeting between China and the ASEAN countries. The Philippine government and military have consistently adopted an aggressive stand on the South China Sea issue. Thus, they are giving a fitting reply to China.

A few months ago, the Philippines openly defied the fishing ban imposed annually by China. Following that Philippines has started moves to create artificial islands and military hubs in the South China Sea.