MANILA (PNA) — The government has inked a contract worth P3 billion with PZL Swienik Company of Poland for the supply of eight brand-new combat utility helicopters for the modernization program of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Maj. Gen. Jose Tony E. Villarete, deputy chief of staff for plans (J-5) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said it will take 18 months before the helicopters will be delivered.

The PZL Swienik is Poland's biggest manufacturer of helicopters.

The Polish company won the right to supply the PAF with eight brand-new combat utility choppers following the failure of two public biddings made by the Department of National Defense (DND) and the AFP.

Lt. Col. Florante Amano, chief of the capability weapons system of J-5, said there were no other takers of the sealed public bidding except PZL Swienik.

Amano said that under Republic Act No. 9184 or the Procurement Law, the government must conduct public bidding for the purchase of equipment, but after two failed biddings, the lone bidder will be awarded the contract.

“We conducted two sealed public biddings but no company showed up except PZL Swienik,” Amano said.

Amano said that one of the reasons why no other bidders took part in the bidding was their apprehension of dollar rate fluctuations.

The funds for the purchase of the eight utility combat choppers were part of the AFP modernization budget in 2007.

Villarete said the acquisition of these helicopters is timely because the Air Force badly needs helicopters of this type to support government ground forces during combat operations.

The PAF’s main utility helicopters are the ageing UH1-H “Huey” helicopters it acquired from the United States four decades ago.

The Swienik helicopter can carry 14 persons, including the pilot and co-pilot, and has a maximum speed of 260 kilometers per hour and a range of 745 kilometers non-stop. It can climb to an altitude of 19,680 feet, more than twice that of the “Huey.”

Villarete said that once the Polish-made helicopters would be delivered towards the end of 2011, the Air Force mobility would greatly be enhanced.