Philippines cancels helicopter deal with Russia – AP

Russia has lost yet another buyer for its military aircraft.

AP writes about it.

The government of the Philippines has scrapped a deal to purchase 16 Russian Mi-17 military transport helicopters due to fears of possible U.S. sanctions, Philippine officials said.

Former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday night that he canceled the $227 million deal to acquire the Mi-17 helicopters in a last month decision approved by then-President Rodrigo Duterte before their terms in office ended on June 30.

“We could face (US – Ed.) sanctions,” Lorenzana told, describing ways Washington could express its displeasure if the Philippines proceeded with the deal due to the US’s worsening “conflict” with Russia.

American security officials were aware of Manila’s decision and could offer similar heavy-lift helicopters for Philippine military use, he said.

According to the Mi-17 purchase deal signed in November, Russian Sovtechnoexport planned to deliver the first batch of multi-purpose helicopters in about two years. The deal was announced by the Defense Minister of the Philippines last year, although it was not specified at the time what it involved.

Prior to this, the Philippine Air Force announced the possibility of acquiring helicopters as part of efforts to expand its helicopter fleet.

“Also, the first payment for heavy helicopters, I think, will be paid soon so that we have Russian Mi-17 heavy-lift helicopters,” Major General Connor Anthony Canlas said on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the new commander of the Philippine Air Force.

At the time, officials did not say the number of helicopters they wanted to order for the Philippine Air Force.

In 2019, the Philippine Air Force’s interest in acquiring 16 Mi-17 helicopters became known. After that, a delegation from the Philippines visited Russia and the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant.

Mi-17 is the export name of the Soviet Мі-8МТ multipurpose helicopter, developed by Mil Design Bureau in the early 1960s. It’s the most popular two engine helicopter in the world and overall one of the most popular helicopters in the history of aviation.