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/

"PHL Navy acquiring 2 corvettes, 6 offshore patrol vessels aside from 6 frigates"

Chief of Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad said that among the approved projects under the Horizon 2 of Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program are the acquisition of corvettes and offshore patrol vessels.

 

“‘Yung na-approve sa second horizon is we are going to procure two corvettes and 6 offshore patrol vessels,” Empedrad said over DWDD on June 13.

“So lots of ships capabilities na iaacquire natin, pero more importantly gusto sana namin makuha ‘yung submarines because it’s strategic deterrence to other navies in world,” he noted.

“Kasi kung alam nilang may submarines ka they will start to respect the Philippine Navy,” he explained.

Empedrad also said that the Navy is programmed to have a total of 6 frigates. Two frigates are currently being built by South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries.

President Rodrigo Duterte said during the 120th anniversary celebration of Philippine Navy at Coconut Palace, CCP Complex, Manila that the government is working on implementing the Horizon 2 of AFP modernization which encompasses a number of projects for the Philippine Navy amounting to PHP77 billion.


Source: https://www.facebook.com/dwdd1134/videos/2162869070624244/; https://pcoo.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180522-Speech_of_President_Rodrigo_Roa_Duterte_during_the_120th_Philippine_Navy_Anniversary.pdf

PHL eyes Russia, Korea for submarines

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines is now looking for possible suppliers of diesel-electric submarines which will be acquired in the third horizon of Revised Armed Forces (AFP) Modernization Program, 2023 to 2028.

Among the countries the Philippines is looking are South Korea and Russia. “Tumitingin tayo sa Korea at Russia and other countries,” Secretary Lorenzana said after the June 11 DND flag raising ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The defense chief said Philippines is being left out by its neighbors in Southeast Asia.

“Kailangan din naman natin ‘yan para meron naman tayong security, kasi yung mga kapitbahay natin may mga submarines na eh, Malaysia, Indonesia, pati Singapore na napakaliit na bansa, at Vietnam, tayo na lang wala dito,” he said.

He explained that procuring submarines takes time.

“Kasi iyung pagawa ng submarine, it takes five to eight years, sometimes it takes 10 years. From the time we order it until it is finished, it takes that long. If we order in the third horizon and is delivered, the term of the president is already finished,” Lorenzana said.

Sources: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037854; https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/11/lorenzana-looking-at-south-korea-russia-as-potential-suppliers-of-submarines-for-afp/