Acceptance test for Blackhawk choppers done

THE fourth baseline aircraft for the order of 12 S-70i Blackhawk Helicopters due in early 2014 had completed its acceptance test this month, according to a report by the Ministry of Defence (MinDef).

Early this month, an official delegation from MinDef conducted a site visit to Sikorsky's PZL Mielec facility in Poland to witness the factory acceptance test for the fourth baseline S-70i Blackhawk Helicopter, out of 12 that have been signed for last year.

PZL Mielec is an affiliate of Sikorsky Aircraft, which is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp, and currently produces the M-28 fixed wing aircraft and the Sikorsky S-70i international Blackhawk helicopter.

The delegation was headed by Hjh Suriyah Hj Umar, Permanent Secretary (Administration and Fiance), who earlier had also met with His Excellency Boguslaw Winid, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary of State of Poland, the report said.

Winid had also presented the permanent secretary with a symbolic key to the S-70i Blackhawk, as part of a commemoration ceremony for the MinDef delegation visit to the 20th International Defence Industry Exhibition held in Kiecle, Poland.

According to MinDef, the first three baseline aircraft had also recently completed its factory acceptance tests in Poland in April 2012 and June 2012.

The ministry said that the baseline aircraft will then be sent to the Sikorsky Military Completions Center (SMCC) in the United States "for customisation work to produce the uniquely configured aircraft that meets the Royal Brunei Armed Forces requirements".

"This aircraft is the fourth from the 12 S-70i Blackhawk helicopters that was contracted to Sikorsky as part of Royal Brunei Air Forces helicopter fleet modernisation," according to the MinDef article.

It also said that the new fleet will enhance the Royal Brunei Air Forces rotary wing capabilities in air mobility, Search and Rescue (SAR) and enhance surveillance of Brunei's waters and borders. The first batch of the uniquely configured aircraft is expected to be delivered to Brunei in early 2014. Koo Jin ShenThe Brunei Times