MANILA, Philippines — A Canadian firm has lamented the termination of the P12-billion helicopter deal with the Philippine government, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana revealed yesterday. However, with the cancellation of the helicopter deal with Canada, it will take the defense department some time to procure these air assets. Lorenzana said that they are now looking at China, Russia or AirBus – a European defense contractor – and other defense suppliers, as possible source of these combat utility helicopters. We will reboot the procurement (of these combat utility helicopters) and we are currently studying other possible sources of the units,” defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said. Aside from the combat utility helicopters, the defense department is also eyeing to buy fast attack boats and unmanned aerial vehicles from China and sniper rifles from Russia.

Source: Philippine Star March 20, 2018 16:27 UTC