Jordan Gifts Cobra Attack Helicopters to Philippines

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) accepted delivery of two Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters it received as a present from Jordan, on Tuesday.

“The helicopters arrived Tuesday morning and will be reassembled to put rotors and launchers. They are expected to be operational by the end of December,” National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., was quoted as saying by Philstar on November 28.

The initial offer reportedly included handover of four gunships. The rotorcraft arrived aboard a Russian-made Antonov cargo plane that landed in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Manila will have to shoulder costs such as procuring maintenance and spare parts for the aircraft. The country has kept P45.7 million for the same. The Cobra can be armed with guided anti-tank missiles.

Training of Filipino personnel took place in Jordan.