ArmedForcesofthePhilippines: July 2018

Saturday, July 28, 2018

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

Monday, July 9, 2018

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/