US approves sale of TH-73A helicopters to Philippines

The TH-73A Thrasher is the military variant of the AW119T. The TH-73A pictured is in service with the US Navy, which ordered 128. (US Navy/Lt Michelle Tucker)

The Philippines has sought to procure Leonardo TH-73A Thrasher training helicopters, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has revealed, adding that the US Department of State approved the potential sale on 15 April.

According to Leonardo, the TH-73A is the military variant of the commercially available Leonardo AW119T training helicopter. The United States is the first operator of the TH-73A, using the type for undergraduate rotary and tiltrotor pilot training for the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard from 2021, according to Leonardo.

While the DSCA announcement does not say how many helicopters Manila seeks to procure, the potential sale has an estimated value of USD120 million. This includes supporting equipment such as an aircraft simulator, spare engines, fuel tanks, aircraft hoists, and lifts.

Also included are commercial avionics, flight management systems, and GPSs; support and test equipment; consumables and accessories; integration and test support, repair, and return support; and spare parts. Unclassified software, publications, and technical documentation; personnel training and commercial training equipment; US government and contractor engineering; technical, logistics, and transportation support services (including in-country representative support); and studies and surveys are other items in the proposed sale.

According to the agency, the proposed sale will “improve the Philippines' capability to meet current and future threats by providing an aircraft platform that will serve as the primary method of improving pilot training and skills, thus helping to ensure the development of a proficient rotary-wing aviator corps”.