Military procurement priorities, maintenance protocols, and operational transition frameworks face continued evaluation as the armed forces replace aging legacy platforms with modern rotary-wing assets.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday decommissioned all six of its remaining UH-1H or Huey helicopters, ending the aircraft type’s nearly six decades of service.
“All UH-1H of the PAF were decommissioned. The PAF has six right now,” PAF spokesperson Col. Jay Capinguian said of the last batch of decommissioned aircraft.
The Air Force began operating UH-1Hs in March 1969 when four of these iconic aircraft arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The number later peaked at several dozen and the aircraft became the workhorse of the Air Force in rotary-wing lift capability, playing a vital role in combat missions as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.
The decommissioning of the Huey was anticipated with the acquisition of 48 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters over the past several years under the military’s modernization program.
One of the Black Hawks crashed in 2021 during a night-flying exercise in Capas, Tarlac, leaving three pilots and three other personnel onboard dead.
Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura led the decommissioning ceremony for the last UH-1Hs at the Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
The ceremony was held to “honor the contributions of the UH-1H fleet throughout its nearly six decades of service”, according to the Air Force.
“The ceremony marked the retirement of the aircraft type from PAF service, bringing to a close a legacy that began with the arrival of the first four UH-1H helicopters at Villamor Air Base on March 29, 1969,” the Air Force said in a statement.
The Air Force also said the UH-1Hs supported various military operations across the country, reflecting the dedication and professionalism of pilots, aircrew, and maintenance personnel.
“As the PAF continues its modernization and capability development efforts, the decommissioning marks the end of an important chapter in its history,” the Air Force also said.
The PAF also said the “legacy of service” of the UH-1Hs and the dedication of personnel behind them “will remain part of the enduring heritage.”