SHAH ALAM: Philippines is cleared to buy Apaches or Vipers. Washington has approved a request for the Philippines to purchase of up to six Boeing AH-64E Apache or the Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters. The approval does not mean that the purchase has been done. The FMS sale package for the Apaches will cost up to US$1.5 billion (RM6.4 billion) while the Vipers is US$450 million (RM1.9 billion).
The Pentagon said the Philippines is considering either the AH-64E or the AH-1Z to modernize its attack helicopter capabilities. The proposed sale will assist the Philippines in developing and maintaining strong self-defense, counterterrorism, and critical infrastructure protection capabilities. The Philippines will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and support into its armed forces.
The detail equipment list for the Apache purchase:
The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy six (6) AH-64E Apache attack helicopters; eighteen (18) T700-GE-701D engines (12 installed, 6 spares); fifteen (15) Honeywell Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation (EGIs) w/Precise Positioning Service (PPS) (12 installed, 3 spares); two hundred (200) AGM-114 Hellfire missiles; twelve (12) M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); three hundred (300) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Kits; one thousand seven hundred (1,700) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Guidance Sections; six (6) AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS); six (6) AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars (FCR) with Radar Electronic Units (REU); six (6) AN/APR-48B Modernized-Radar Frequency Interferometers (M-RFI); eight (8) AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (6 installed, 2 spares); two hundred (200) FIM-92H Stinger missiles; eight (8) Manned-Unmanned Teaming-2 (MUMT-2i) Video Receivers (6 installed, 2 spares); and eight (8) MannedÂUnmanned Teaming-2 (MUMT-2i) Air-Air-Ground Kits (6 installed, 2 spares). Also included are eight (8) AN/AVR-2B Laser Detecting sets (6 installed, 2 spares); eight (8) AN/APR-39C(V)l+ Radar Signal Detecting sets (6 installed, 2 spares); fourteen (14) Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) radios (12 installed, 2 spares); fourteen (14) UHF/VHF/LOS airborne radios (12 installed, 2 spares); eight (8) AN/APX-123A (V) Common Transponders (6 installed, 2 spares); eight (8) IDM-401 Improved Data Modems (6 new, 2 spares); eight (8) AN/ARN-149 (V)3 Automatic Direction Finders (6 installed, 2 spares); eight (8) Doppler ASN-157 Doppler Radar Velocity Sensors (6 installed, 2 spares); eight (8) AN/APN-209 Radar Altimeters (6 installed, 2 spares); eight (8) AN/ARN-153 Tactical Air Navigation sets (TACAN) (6 installed, 2 spares); four (4) TACAN Ground Stations; eight (8) Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range/Instrument Landing Systems (VOR/ILS) (6 installed, 2 spares); three (3) AN/PYQ-10(C) Simple Key Loader (3 new); six (6) M230El + M139 AWS Automatic Gun (6 new); eighteen (18) M261 rocket launchers (12 new, 6 spares); eighteen (18) M299 missile launchers (12 new, 6 spares); six (6) rocket motor, 2.75-inch, MK66-4, Inert (6 new); six (6) High Explosive Warhead for Airborne 2.75 Rocket, Inert (6 new); eighteen (18) Stinger air-to-air launchers (18 new); twelve (12) Stinger Captive Flight Trainers (CFT) (12 new); six (6) Stinger Aerial Handling Trainers (AHT) (6 new); five thousand (5,000) each 2.75 inch rockets (5,000 new); eighty thousand (80,000) 30mm rounds (80,000 new), training devices, communication systems, helmets, simulators, generators, transportation and organization equipment, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $1.5 billion.
The detail equipment list for the Vipers:
The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy six (6) AH-1Z attack helicopters; fourteen (14) T-700 GE 401C engines (12 installed, 2 spares); seven (7) Honeywell Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation (EGIs) w/Precise Positioning Service (PPS) (6 installed, 1 spare); six (6) AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles; and twenty six (26) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) all up rounds. Also included is communications equipment; electronic warfare systems, AN/AAR-47 Missile and Laser Warning System, AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser System, AN/APR-39 Radar Warning Receiver, seven (7) M197 20mm machine guns (6 installed, 1 spare), Target Sight System (TSS), 5,000 20mm Semi-Armor Piercing High Explosive Incendiary (SAPHEI) rounds, two (2) AIM-9M Sidewinder training missiles, MJU-32 and MJU-38 Magnesium Teflon pyrotechnic decoy flares, flight training device, LAU-68 rocket launchers, LAU-61 rocket launchers, support equipment, spare engine containers, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $450 million.
I am not sure whether the Philippines government will go ahead with the purchase due to the current issue with the Covid 19 pandemic effects but if they decided on the Vipers, it could be delivered early. The US had halted deliveries of nine of the attack helicopters to Pakistan due to deteriotating relations between both countries.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (38)
This is probably just for window shopping. I dont think they can afford to buy either the Apache or Vipers. Anyway they have just received 2 donated AH-1S from Jordan.
If they do get an attack helicopter, this is the most likely path to it
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/17810/pentagon-to-sell-off-its-ah-1w-super-cobra-attack-helicopter-fleet
Now relating this request to our own army. You can see that the cost of 6 Apaches is greater than the entire malaysian army development budget for 1 rancangan malaysia.
Yeah we cant afford both of them which is understandable..For now the priorities for our armed force is to replace the Nuris and make sure to received all md530g that already ordered..After Nuri replacement procurement program already in motion than by that time maybe we can consider to go for dedicated attack helicopter..Its a shame though that our armed force as i've been told will never go for russian helis anymore cuz on paper ka52 and mi28 looks like quite capable/alternative platform and cheaper too..ansat 2rc also look better than md530g on paper at least as light attack/recce heli too with up too 600km range.
So USD$450mil is the bare minimum to spend if we continue to hanker for a true attack chopper instead of making do with the MD530s as the best compromise in view of our cash-strapped budget. Realistically it would be near USD$600mil as we don't have the spares, maintenance and training facilities already available to Phillipines since they had been a long time AH-1 user.
Reply
Not really, the difference between the Cobra and Viper is like day and night. The only thing that's the same is the best way to employ them. The Philippines have been using helicopters as ground attack aircraft for a long time it will be beneficial but it will take a great leap to fully utilize the Vipers
Actually the Vipers that Pakistan ordered few years ago are now stored at AMARG, USA.
US Government has cancelled the orders and any country who has the bling bling can buy those Pakistan destined Vipers.
Just thought I'd share a bit.
..or maybe not 2rc cuz 2rc got no windows for sf insertion..Or we can always follow Mr M suggestion to scrap the procument of md530g ( Transfer them to the police, strip most of the armament mybe keep the gun and surveilance equipment ) and start light attack/recce program afresh with h145m or other no nonsense model this time..As i understand the police also looking for more capable and lighter helis for recon and their own elite force insertion.
Since pinoy are cleared to buy Apaches, why not Malaysia do the same like them after the pademic ends.
On the md530g
The best thing to be done with them is to give them to the aussie army as a part exchange with their S-70A-9 blackhawks.
They get their SOF helicopters for their Land 2097 Phase 4 requirements, we get our nuri replacement for PUTD. Win win for both parties.
http://www.defensenews.com/industry/2018/10/02/australia-releases-rfi-for-at-least-16-special-operations-helicopters/
http://www.janes.com/article/89814/mdhi-offers-single-and-twin-engined-helicopters-for-australian-sof-role
http://www.helis.com/h2/blackhawk_australia_army_110.jpg
Unique among land blackhawks is the aussie ones using seahawk rotor transmission with rotor brake for use on board ships.
@ safran
Why ask if we cannot afford to buy them?
To Marhalim or triple dot,
What are your POV on
a) TDM buying the 12 Pakistan destined Vipers now stored at AMARG
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/pakistan-considers-chinese-attack-helicopters-on-back-of-stalled-ah-1z-t129-deals/136944.article
b) TDM swapping the Little Birds for Australia's Eurotigers.
@ marhalim
" The Philippines have been using helicopters as ground attack aircraft for a long time "
If you are just need a helicopter to perform as ground attack aircraft or for Close Air Support (CAS), you don't really need a specialized attack helicopter that is actually designed to stalk and hunt MBTs. A Blackhawk with External Stores Support System (ESSS) wing blistering with cannons, rockets and missiles can perform the task as good as a specialized attack helicopter could.
http://assets.verticalmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Armed_Black_Hawk_1783.v2.jpg
http://defpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Sikorsky-S-70i-Blackhawk-SP-YVA.jpg
Even pinoy got AH, we just mini bird....haiz