June 10,2008:
The Philippines is buying ten
UH-1H helicopters from Singapore, for $900,000 each. Singapore is replacing all
its older military helicopters with UH-60s and AH-64s. Singapore has a
per-capita income of nearly $50,000, while the Philippines has a per capita
income of about $1,400. The Philippines has a population (90 million) that is
20 times larger than Singapore's, but is beset by corruption, and two rebel
movements (one Moslem, the other communist). So the Philippines buys second
hand whenever possible. Singapore obtained its UH-1H helicopters in the late
1970s, and has maintained them well ever since. The UH-1 ("Huey") earned a
solid reputation during the Vietnam war. With continued good maintenance, the
UH-1Hs should be good for another decade of use.