Philippine Air Force Scouts for Rotary Wing FMS

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is scouting for a Full Motion Flight Simulator (FMS) for its Leonardo 109P ‘Power’ and Bell 412EP helicopters. The recently issued bid by the Department of National Defence/Armed Forces of the Philippines (DND-AFP) under the Full Motion Flight Simulator Acquisition Project, calls for the supply of an FMS with two cockpits (Leonardo 109P and Bell 412EP) along with an Initial Integrated Logistics Support (IILS) package.

The acquisition budget has been pegged at PHP246 million (approx US$5 million) and delivery is to take place within a year of contract signature. The bid requirements issued this month, call for the training package to provide operator and maintenance/systems specialist training (two per cockpit). The FMS will be based at the Air Education Training and Doctrines Command at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Philippines.

The PAF operates eight Leonardo 109P light twin-engine helicopters configured for attack and utility missions, while the Philippine Navy operates five of the type. The PAF’s 109P helicopters were acquired in a deal worth approximately PHP3.44 billion (US$78 million) and deliveries were completed by December 2015.

The PAF operates eight Bell 412EPs, out of which five are in combat utility configuration and three in VVIP configuration. The helicopters were ordered in April 2014 under a deal estimated at PHP4.66 billion (US$106 million) and deliveries were concluded in August 2017.