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Philippine Navy Commissions Two armed AW-109E to Act as 'Air Amphibious Support' Assets

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Naval Forces News - Philippine
 
 
 
Philippine Navy Commissions Two armed AW-109E to Act as 'Air Amphibious Support' Assets
 
The Philippine Navy (PN) formally commissioned into service its two armed AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters during a ceremony at Naval Station Jose Andrada, on Roxas Boulevard, Manila this week. The helicopters are armed with two FN Hertsal FN RMP rocket machine gun pods combining a 50 caliber machinegun and three 2.75 inch rockets.
     
The Philippine Navy (PN) formally commissioned into service its two armed AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters during a ceremony at Naval Station Jose Andrada, on Roxas Boulevard, Manila this week. The helicopters are armed with two FN Hertsal FN RMP rocket machine gun pods combining a 50 caliber machinegun and three 2.75 inch rockets.
Aside from providing eyes to its parent frigates, the armed AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters will also be useful as "air amphibious support" assets. Picture: Philippine Navy
     
Cmdr. Lued Lincuna, PN public affairs office chief, said that armed AW-109Es are also equipped with maritime air surveillance capability, amphibious air support operations and weather search radar and forward looking infrared systems that enhances the Navy's maritime air surveillance and close air support for ground troops.

The last two AW-109E airframes arrived in the Philippines last December. This is part of the five-helicopter deal, worth Php1.33-billion, signed by the Philippines with AgustaWestland early 2013. Three of the AW-109s were delivered and commissioned in Dec. 22, 2013.

Aside from providing eyes to its parent frigates, the armed AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters will also be useful as "air amphibious support" assets, according to Philippine Navy. The latter is an offensive military operation that uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach.
     
The Philippine Navy (PN) formally commissioned into service its two armed AgustaWestland AW-109E "Power" helicopters during a ceremony at Naval Station Jose Andrada, on Roxas Boulevard, Manila this week. The helicopters are armed with two FN Hertsal FN RMP rocket machine gun pods combining a 50 caliber machinegun and three 2.75 inch rockets.
Philippine Navy's AW-109E are seen fitted with FN RMP machine gun and rocket pods.
Picture: Philippine Navy
     
The AW-109 "Power" helicopter is a three-ton class, eight-seat helicopter powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW206C engines. The spacious cabin is designed to be fitted with a number of modular equipment packages for quick and easy conversion between roles. For shipboard operations, the aircraft has a reinforced-wheeled landing gear and deck mooring points as well as extensive corrosion protection measures. The ability to operate from small ships in high sea state enables the AW-109 to perform its mission when many other helicopters would be confined to the ship’s hangar.

According to FN Herstal, the FN RMP™ LC is a self-contained airborne weapon system that includes a .50 cal FN M3P™ (1,100 RPM) combat-proven machine gun, 250-round ammunition box, firing actuator and cocking device in one casing, allowing outstanding performance in all environments. The griFN® RMP can also accept guided or unguided 2.75” rockets.