Japan Transferred Two Subaru Bell 412EPX Helicopters to the Philippines

The Philippine Air Force has received two new Subaru Bell 412EPX multi-purpose helicopters.

This was reported on the official Philippine Air Force page on X.

On September 15, a ceremony was held at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to officially accept the second batch of helicopters under the Additional Utility Helicopter Project.

In total, the Philippines has ordered eight helicopters. The Philippines signed the delivery contract with American company Bell Textron Inc., and the Japanese company Subaru manufactures the helicopters at its facility in Japan.

Subaru and Bell Textron jointly developed the Subaru Bell 412EPX.

The Philippine Air Force received the first two helicopters on May 19, 2026, and has now received two more.

As a result, the Philippine Air Force fleet now has 18 Subaru Bell 412EP helicopters.

The new helicopters are expected to enhance the Philippine military’s aviation capabilities in air mobility, as well as during humanitarian operations and disaster relief efforts.

The Philippine Air Force’s Office of Systems Engineering and Modernization organized the acceptance and blessing ceremony for the new helicopters. Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura presided over the event.

The commander urged service members to ensure proper operation and maintenance of the new helicopters to make the most effective use of their capabilities.

In addition to the Japanese helicopters, the Philippines received five more S-70i Black Hawk multipurpose helicopters in August 2025, manufactured in Poland by PZL Mielec.

The helicopters were delivered to the country on July 15 aboard an An-124 Ruslan cargo plane operated by the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines.