MANILA, — Lockheed Martin has signed a Direct Commercial Sale contract with the Philippine Department of National Defense to supply advanced training systems for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and its growing fleet of Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters.
Announced on October 8, 2026, in Orlando, Florida, the agreement includes a Full Flight Simulator, a Virtual Maintenance Trainer, training course materials, and sustainment and spare parts support through 2032. The contract marks the first direct commercial order for Lockheed Martin’s S-70i Black Hawk training devices.
The Full Flight Simulator uses digital twin technology to replicate the aircraft’s cockpit environment, flight characteristics and operating systems. It will allow pilots to practise routine operations and emergency procedures in a simulated environment without using operational helicopters. The Virtual Maintenance Trainer uses physics-based models of aircraft subsystems, including avionics and hydraulics, allowing maintenance personnel to practise troubleshooting and repair procedures without taking helicopters out of service for training.
Building Domestic Training Capabilities
The Philippine Air Force will continue training pilots at the U.S.-based Sikorsky Training Academy until the new systems are installed and domestic training capabilities are established.
The PAF already operates a full-motion simulator with interchangeable cockpits for the S-70i Black Hawk and Bell 412EP helicopters. Supplied by Romania-based Simultec, it was inaugurated in Cebu in December 2025. The new Lockheed Martin systems will expand the country's existing training infrastructure.
Lockheed Martin said its training systems use digital twins and a digital thread linked to the helicopter’s operational flight programme. This approach can allow simulator software updates to be developed in days rather than years, helping keep training systems aligned with future aircraft upgrades.
Supporting a Fleet of Approximately 47 Helicopters
The agreement follows the Philippine Air Force’s completion of deliveries under its second Black Hawk procurement contract. In August 2026, the PAF received its final batch at Villamor Air Base, completing deliveries of 32 additional S-70i helicopters under the agreement.
Following two major procurement contracts, the Philippines operates approximately 47 S-70i Black Hawks, making it the world's largest operator of this variant. The helicopters are manufactured by PZL Mielec in Poland, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary.
The PAF uses its Black Hawks for search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, aerial firefighting and troop transport across the Philippine archipelago, which is frequently affected by severe weather and natural disasters. The expanding fleet increases the need for qualified pilots, maintenance personnel and reliable spare parts support.
Tim James, vice president of Air and Commercial Solutions at Lockheed Martin, said the contract was a long-term investment in the Philippine Air Force’s mission readiness and would support its growing S-70i fleet through training and sustainment solutions.
William Blair, vice president and regional chief executive for Asia and India at Lockheed Martin, said the systems would help keep crews and maintenance personnel mission-ready while supporting the Philippines’ broader military modernization programme.
The contract value and exact delivery schedule for the training systems have not been disclosed.
——— End of Article ———
