2 Z-9 night attack variants
Posted on 09/08/2007 4:28:39 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
REFILE-China offers to sell military choppers to Manila
05 Sep 2007 09:11:46 GMT Source: Reuters
MANILA, Sept 5 (Reuters) - China has offered to sell 8 utility helicopters to the Philippine military as it seeks to replace its Vietnam War-era aircraft, a Philippine air force official said on Wednesday.
Defence ties between China and the Philippines -- a longtime U.S. ally -- have grown steadily since 2004 when the two sides launched an annual security dialogue.
Beijing has since donated $2.5 million worth of engineering equipment to the military to help it carry out development projects in areas where communist and Muslim rebels operate. On Monday it promised another $2 million in military aid.
An air force officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Beijing had invited them to evaluate its tear-shaped bodied Z9 series utility helicopters manufactured by the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Company.
"We have a team of pilots evaluating the Chinese-made Z9 series helicopters in Harbin," an airforce general, who declined to be named, told Reuters. "We're also looking at another type of aircraft that China was offering to sell at cheaper prices."
The Philippines has 40 helicopters, mostly second-hand, donated by the United States as part of military assistance to fight communist rebels and Islamic militants in the south of the mainly Roman Catholic country.
Manila has set aside 3 billion pesos for new utility helicopters.
The government is also looking at buying up to 8 attack helicopters at a cost of 1.2 billion pesos ($25.8 million) and opened bids on Wednesday.
Boeing Co's McDonnell Douglas unit, Agusta Westland of Italy and a state-owned company from Poland are bidding for the attack helicopter contract. The winner will be announced within the week.
In January, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo promised to spend 5 billion pesos on new helicopters to replace the military's ageing fleet of UH-1H and Bell choppers.
Two helicopters have been lost in recent accidents, including one in April when a chopper on a training flight hit a motorcycle in the central Philippines, killing nine people.
2 Z-9 night attack variants
Wonder if that pilot used to drive a Jeepney in Olongapo.
What are these like? Are they fit for purpose?
Given that their enemies aren’t the best equipped, I can see why the US/Euro ones which may be better but are normally more expensive are not their preferred option. As long as they can do the job.
I thought there were tensions between China and the Philippines over the Spratly islands. If I recall, they even fired upon each other.
Did China ever dismantle their "research" center?
Is the Philippines sucking-up to China out of fear or do they just care about getting it cheap?
The Philippines has 40 helicopters, mostly second-hand, donated by the United States as part of military assistance
The US gave them 40 helicopters and it hasn't created enough goodwill for them to exclude other countries when purchasing 8 more helicopters. What's up with that?
On the other hand, will they break down in the air, or after a few flights?
What?
Who are the heathens you are referring to?
The Chinese who are heavily atheist, but have one of the largest Christian populations on Earth?
Or the Filipinos, who are roughly 85% Roman Catholic and 10% Protestant (including a J.W.-ish sect)?
Asia pinglist ping.
LOL.
The Red China hegemony proceeds apace. Japan has to be released from its constitutional restriction not to produce weapons of war for export. Japan could be producing choppers that would make these Red China clunkers look like dinosaurs.
It’s a license copy of the French Dauphin helicopter,the others users of which include the US Coast Guard.Pretty neat utility & light attack helicopter.And as mentioned it’s cheap.
Appreciated.
We called it the “Jesus Bolt.” Ah, the memories...
Just keep the paint job, away from the little kaibigans.
I suspect a deal with China also involves more room for kickbacks to Filipino leaders. I would express sympathy for the Filipino people, except for the fact that they voted these crooks in.
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