Philippines to receive first training devices for its S-70i Black Hawks

Contract will establish an in-country training capability for the Philippine air force.
The Philippine air force (PAF) will receive its first order of Sikorsky’s S-70i Black Hawk training devices, including a full flight simulator and a virtual maintenance trainer. Announced on 8 October, the contract also consists of sustainment and spares support through to 2032.

The Philippines operates a fleet of 47 S-70i-model Black Hawks and uses the helicopters for a range of missions, including search and rescue, humanitarian aid and troop transport across its archipelago. One of the country’s Black Hawks was written off after a 2021 crash.

The S-70i Black Hawk full flight simulator will act as a digital twin recreating the flight dynamics of an operating aircraft, according to Sikorsky. A virtual maintenance trainer will also provide a physics-driven simulation of all airframe systems from hydraulics to avionics.

Lockheed Martin’s S-70i Black Hawk virtual maintenance trainer provides interactive 3D simulations of maintenance tasks and is one of a family of high-fidelity, synthetic training devices currently available. Source: Lockheed Martin

The deal was signed through a direct commercial sale (DCS). DCS allows customers to bypass lengthy Foreign Military Sales approval processes for less-sensitive products. The exact value of the contract has not been made public.

The contract will eventually enable the PAF to train Black Hawk pilots and maintainers locally, but pilots will continue to train at the US-based Sikorsky training academy until in-country training is established. A completion date for that capability has not been disclosed.

The move continues the Philippine’s defence modernisation efforts. The third phase of the nation’s modernisation programme, Horizon 3, was announced in January 2024. The 10-year plan is worth approximately Ps2 trillion ($35 billion) and is focused on archipelagic defence.

“These solutions build on the PAF’s ongoing efforts to enhance training, ensuring crews and maintainers remain mission-ready while advancing their broader modernisation goals,” says William Blair, Lockheed’ s vice-president and regional chief executive of Asia & India. Lockheed purchased Sikorsky in 2015.

All of Manila’s S-70is were produced in Poland by Lockheed’s PZL-Mielec unit.

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