PZL Mielec completes major Black Hawk helicopter delivery to Philippines

PZL Mielec has completed a major contract for the Philippine Air Force, delivering the final seven S-70i Black Hawk helicopters from a 32-unit order. This brings the total number of Polish-made Black Hawks acquired by the Philippines to 48, making the country the largest user of this specific model produced in Poland.

The delivery was completed ahead of schedule despite global supply chain challenges and the impact of the war in Ukraine. The S-70i helicopters are intended to replace older UH-1 models, providing enhanced capabilities for troop transport, night missions, military support, and humanitarian rescue operations.

While the Philippine contract has concluded successfully, the Polish Ministry of National Defence has decided against further modernization or additional orders for the S-70i Black Hawk for the Polish military. According to Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda, an analysis led to a recommendation to forgo the project, though the specific results of that analysis remain classified.