Department of National Defense to acquire more missiles for the new incoming ships

Department of National Defense to acquire more missiles for the new incoming ships

The Philippines will be acquiring more missile weaponry to arm its new ships, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed Thursday.

Lorenzana made the announcement after the successful test-firing of the Philippine Navy’s (PN) Rafael Advanced Defense Ltd. Spike-ER (extended range) surface-to-surface missile off Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan last August 9.

The weapon was fired from one of the PN’s three Spike-ER armed multi-purpose assault craft (MPACs).

The MPACs were constructed by the Subic-based Propmech Corporation and activated on May 22, 2017.

“We’re getting more of those (missile weaponry), because we’re planning (to acquire) more vessels. By the way, we have off-shore patrol vessels that we would order, six of which would be built here in the country. It will be built by Austal, which is a subsidiary of Austal in Australia, in Balamban, Cebu. All will be made in the Philippines,” Lorenzana said in a media interview.

Asked for the contract price for the six off-shore patrol vessels, the DND chief said he cannot give specific figures yet as the deal is still being finalized.

The DND chief said the implication of the August 9 Spike-ER missile test-firing is that it boosted the PN’s capability to efficiently employ such weapon in its operations.

“A Spike-ER missile was fired and accurately hit the designated target at approximately 6 KM (kilometers) away from the firing platform. The target was hit dead center even if the sea state condition was moderately rough with wave of at least one meter high but within the normal firing conditions of the missile,” PN spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata earlier said.

The PN MPAC Acquisition Project entered into a contract with Rafael, through SIBAT of the Israel Ministry of Defense, for the supply and integration of the weapons systems to MPAC Mark III platforms.

“Another actual live firing demonstration of the Spike ER missile will be scheduled with the Commander in-Chief, the President of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in attendance,” Zata said.

The Spike-ER system, which arrived in the country last April, is the PN’s first missile weapon, capable of penetrating 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and having a range of eight kilometers.

Source: https://www.ptvnews.ph/ph-acquire-missiles-new-ships/

Philippine Navy AW109 to conduct joint live firing training with MPACs

Philippine Navy AW109 to conduct joint live firing training with MPACs

Once weather conditions have improved, the Philippine Navy (PN) will conduct a comprehensive test of the Spike-ER surface-to-surface missiles and machine gun systems equipping three of its newly-activated multi-purpose assault craft (MPACs), Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.

"The test will showcase, test, and affirm the missile-capability of the newly-equipped Boat Attack (BA) Mark III vessels and to inform the general populace and other stakeholders of the PN's new assets and capabilities," he added.

The Navy was supposed to test fire its Spike-ER missiles and other MPAC weaponry off Corregidor last July 17, 18, 24 and 26 but inclement weather conditions caused the postponement and rescheduling of the exercise to August.

Aside from the missile-armed boats, the PN will also deploy its AgustaWestland AW-109 attack helicopters which are armed with 2.75-inch rockets and .50 caliber machineguns to showcase the inter-operability of its air and surface assets.

Tentatively, the weapons test will be started by the AW-109 attack helicopters firing its machineguns at designated targets, followed by MPACs firing its guns, followed by another run, using the Spike-ER missiles.

Andolong said that Naval Task Force-Jerusalem was formed to supervise and monitor the above-mentioned exercise. The Spike-ER equipped MPACs are the Navy's Batch 3 MPACs which was constructed by the Subic-based Propmech Corporation and activated on May 22, 2017.

The Spike-ER system, which arrived in the country last April, is the PN's first missile weapon capable penetrating 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and having a range of eight kilometers.

Government troops overran NPA camp in Agusan Norte

Security forces clashed with undetermined number of New People's Army guerrillas and overran the rebels' camp in Tubay town in Agusan del Norte last Thursday afternoon, the military said Saturday.

The NPA camp in Sitio Cogon-Cogon of Barangay Tagmamarkay of Tubay town was routed in a firefight that erupted at about 2:20 p.m. as troops from the 29th Infantry Battalion of the 402nd Infantry Brigade were conducting a focused military operation.

After the  20-minute clash, the troops captured the communist insurgents'  camp that yielded a loaded AK-47, an improvised explosive device (for landmine), 100-meter wire strip, a  backpack, and personal belongings.

No soldier was hurt in the skirmish, the military said, adding that "heavy blood stains" was seen inside the captured enemy camp, indicating the enemy's large casualties.

402nd IB commander Brigadier General Franco Nemesio Gacal lauded the 29th IB troops for the successful conduct of the military operation in Tubay.

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/662151/government-troops-overran-npa-camp-in-agusan-norte-military/story/?utm_source=GMANews&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=news

PHL’s C-130T aircraft now capable of maritime patrol

The United States government committed, under the Obama administration through Maritime Security Initiative (MSI), to provided the Philippines with palletized intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) kit for Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s C-130 aircraft.

The implementation of this commitment by US was raised through a photo that appeared first in Philippine Plane Spotters Group (PPSG) social networking group this week.

The implementation was further confirmed by MaxDefense Philippines in an article.

PAF’s C-130T aircraft with tail number 5040 was utilized for the project. The said aircraft is one of the two C130Ts provided by US government through Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Program.

“The US military made use of the Canadian-built SABIR (Special Airborne Mission Installation and Response) system, that allows the mounting of modular pods externally without the need for modifications on the airframe except for the rear paratrooper doors,” MaxDefense said.

“Several systems were installed to convert the aircraft into a dual use surveillance/maritime patrol – heavy tactical transport platform,” it added. More information about ISR equipment used for the C130 aircraft is available at https://maxdefense.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-philippine-air-force-finally-got.html

US government’s Maritime Security Initiative also facilitated the delivery of several naval assets to Philippine Navy like the third Del Pilar class frigate BRP Andrés Bonifacio (FF-17) and research vessel BRP Gregorio Velasquez (AGR 702).

Sources: https://news.usni.org/2016/04/18/the-philippines-at-forefront-of-new-pentagon-maritime-security-initiative; https://maxdefense.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-philippine-air-force-finally-got.html; https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/11/17/fact-sheet-us-building-maritime-capacity-southeast-asia; https://www.paf.mil.ph/press/2016/c130t2016.html

The United States, Russia, Turkey and Korea wants to supply the Philippine Air Force with helicopters

The United States, Russia, Turkey and Korea wants to supply the Philippine Air Force with helicopters

Helicopter manufacturers from United States, Russia, Turkey and South Korea are offering to supply the Philippine Air Force with combat utility helicopters (CUHs), Department of National Defense (DND) Public Affairs Service chief Arsenio Andolong told Manila Times on July 8.

PAF technical working group (TWG) is currently studying viability of the offers. Representatives of interested suppliers already held talks with defense and PAF officials.

“The Air Force is taking these steps, which is to look for other sources as replacement to the cancelled deal on the helicopters with Canada,” Andolong said.

It can be recalled that the Philippine government already entered into government-to-government deal with Canada for the supply of 16 Bell 412EPI CUHs, however, the deal was ordered cancelled by President Rodrigo Duterte due to usage conditions by the Canadian government.

President Duterte said during the 117th anniversary of the Office of the Solicitor General in Pasay City on July 3 that he wants acquisition of new helicopters be finalized immediately.

“I’m giving you until July to produce that production document. I want that helicopters by the end of the year. Mamaya may gulo dito, magkakandahirap naman ako niyan,” he said.

PAF has an acquisition project for CUHs worth 12.1 billion pesos under Horizon 2 of Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program (H2 RAFPMP).

PAF also has an Attack Helicopter Acquisition Project allocated with 13.8 billion pesos under H2 RAFPMP.

Sources: http://www.manilatimes.net/4-nations-offer-to-supply-ph-with-new-choppers-says-defense-spokesman/417371/; http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/659258/duterte-pag-year-4001-invade-natin-yung-china/story/

The Philippine Army's Strong Jungle Warriors

THE PHILIPPINE ARMY'S STRONG JUNGLE WARRIORS

"Duterte approves P300-B phase 2 of AFP modernization program"

Multiple Launch Rocket System

Under the second phase of the modernization program, the Philippine Army will acquire towed and self-propelled howitzers, multiple launch rocket system, light tanks, armored recovery vehicles, fire support vehicles, tactical radios, ground mobility equipment (light, medium, and heavy), individual weapons, crew-served weapons, and night fighting system.

CV90120-T LIGHT TANK

M109 SELF-PROPELLED HOWITZERS

NIGHT FIGHTING SYSTEM

The Philippine Air Force, meanwhile, has multi-role fighter aircraft, radar system, light utility aircraft, medium lift aircraft, heavy lift helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, attack and combat utility helicopters, special mission and long-range patrol aircraft, and trainer aircraft.

MULTI-ROLE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

HEAVY LIFT HELICOPTERS

AH-1F ATTACK HELICOPTER

SPECIAL MISSION AND LONG-RANGE PATROL AIRCRAFT

Frigates, corvettes, submarines, amphibious assault vehicles, anti-submarine helicopters, attack crafts, medium lift helicopters, and multi-role vessel are set to be acquired for the Philippine Navy. 

FRIGATE

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT VEHICLE

Horizon 2 will be implemented from 2018 until 2022 while Horizon 3 will be from 2023 to 2028.

“Second Horizon is supposed to be our transition period from internal security operations to territorial defense, so we're somewhere in between,” Andolong said.


Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/657620/duterte-approves-p300-b-phase-2-of-afp-modernization-program/story/