US donates P200-M drones to Air Force

NEW ASSETS Brand-new Sikorsky Black Hawks purchased from Poland are commissioned at Clark Air Base, Pampanga.—CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The United States on Wednesday turned over P200-million worth of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), or drones, to the Philippine Air Force. US chargé d’affaires Heather Variava said the United States remains “committed to our promises on helping modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and we hope this will further strengthen our combined capabilities in working together towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.” Variava and US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino turned over the drones to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes at the Clark Airbase in Mabalacat City. The turnover coincided with the blessing and commissioning of five S-70i Black Hawks that the Philippines purchased from Poland. The delivery of the attack helicopters completed the procurement of 16 Black Hawks for $241.5 million from the Polish company Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze.—JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE