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Philippine Navy in Cebu Due for Upgrade to Handle Bigger Ships

The government has allocated PHP1 billion for the upgrading and other improvements of Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu to make it accessible to the present and future frigates that will be acquired by the Philippine Navy (PN).

In an interview Monday, PN spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata said the bidding process for the project started last week.

"Kaya naman in-undertake yang project na ‘yan, although matagal na ‘yan kung tutuusin (The project was undertaken, although it was long overdue), (it) is intended for our frigates. We're expecting our frigates to be here by 2020, para na s’yang, meron na tayong pier or wharf na madidikitan para sa bagong frigates natin (so that we will have a pier or wharf for our new frigates)," he added.

The improvements eyed for Naval Base Rafael Ramos include dredging, primary and secondary roads, drainage systems, proposed slope protections, a 152 meter by 12 meter wharf, a 105 meter by 165 meter beaching ramp, and 225 meter by 20 meter berthing area among others.

The PN is expecting the delivery of the first of 2,500 gross-ton two-missile-armed frigates from Hyundai Heavy Industries by 2020 with the second scheduled to be delivered by 2021.

These ships are expected to augment the three 3,200 gross-ton Del Pilar-class frigates (formerly the US Hamilton-class cutters) now in PN service.

Other large ships in the PN inventory are the two strategic sealift vessels, the 7,000-gross ton BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602).

Zata said there is a pressing need for the PN to improve the above-mentioned naval base as its frigates and other large ships in the fleet have no home port to speak of.

At present, these large Navy ships are anchoring off Subic Bay and Pier 13, Manila South Harbor.

Once these upgrades are completed, the PN spokesperson said Naval Base Rafael Ramos will be the first-ever facility capable of handling large vessels.

Philippine Navy took delivery of three TC-90s from Japan

The Philippine Navy has taken delivery of the remaining three TC-95 donated by Japan. The arrival and transfer ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Naval Air Group (NAG), Sangley Pt., Cavite City on Mar. 26.

Philippines Eyes Wheeled and Tracked AFVs

The Philippine Army told Shephard Media as far back as 2014 that it harboured ambitions to procure main battle tanks within the 2020-28 period. However, a more realistic and immediate plan is to acquire lighter AFVs.

Thus, the army’s Horizon 2 procurement plan proposal (covering 2018-22) features light tanks with a budget allocation of PHP9.484 billion ($185 million). A total of 44 units are needed to equip three tank companies of the Mechanized Infantry Division (MID) of the Philippine Army, which is based at Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac.

However, following the bloody urban combat in Marawi last year, Shephard understands that the desire for tracked tanks has been eclipsed by a requirement for wheeled armoured vehicles. Two types are being eyed: a tank destroyer armed with a 105mm gun, and a vehicle armed with a 30mm gun in an unmanned turret. Ideally, both vehicles would share a common 8×8 platform.

The Philippine-based MaxDefense blogsite explained that options for a wheeled tank destroyer from Europe, South Korea and Turkey are currently being considered.The requirement for a wheeled vehicle was made explicit when Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana revealed last August that the army was interested in armoured vehicles weighing less than 20t.

If funds do not permit a 30mm gun, the army might have to settle for a 6×6 hull carrying an RWS armed with a 12.7mm machine gun.

Whichever company is selected for the wheeled requirement would find itself in pole position to supply the extant requirement for light tanks as well. Specifications have not been finalised by the army’s technical working group yet, but the preference is for a diesel-powered, tracked vehicle weighing less than 35t and armed with a 105mm gun.

Companies are already making proposals to the army.

Therefore, of the 44 AFVs required and funded, the army will probably opt for a mix of wheeled and tracked vehicles. MaxDefense believes the procurement process ‘may start late this year or early next year’.

Philippine Navy’s first 2 frigates will be anti-air platforms

The state-run Philippine News Agency quoted Philippine Navy chief Rear Adm. Robert Empedrad as saying that the two frigates from South Korea will be employed as anti-air platforms.

4 More Frigates Needed to Secure PH Seas Navy Chief

To fully protect the country's vast maritime domains and resources, the Philippines needs four more modern frigates aside from the two contracted with South Korean shipbuilder, Hyudai Heavy Industries (HHI).

This was the remark of Philippine Navy (PN) flag-officer-in-command Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad when asked how many more modern warships the Navy needs to fully secure the country’s maritime domains.

Empedrad issued this statement during the Frigate Acquisition Project hearing at the Senate last Feb. 19 where issues concerning the brand of combat management system (CMS) to be installed were discussed.

"Based on our Modernization Program, we will require six of the frigates until 2028 – that is our Third Horizon. Apat pa after we get these two ships," he said.

The frigates, presently being built by HHI, will be armed with weapons capable of neutralizing surface, sub-surface and air threats aside from its electronic warfare ability.

These ships have a contract of PHP18 billion, including their weapons systems and munitions.

In the same hearing, the Navy chief said there are also plans to install a CMS and upgrade the weapon systems of the three Hamilton-class cutters acquired from the US Coast Guard.

Three TC-90s being transferred to Philippines in late March

Japan is preparing to transfer another three TC-90s to Philippines in the third week of March, Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong Monday disclosed.

Philippines cancels order for 16 Bell 412EPI helicopters

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the cancellation of a $233.36 million deal to buy 16 Bell 412EPI helicopters from Canada.

Philippine troops in the ruins Malawi of the city

Hand to hand combat in urban environment of Malawi

Follow A New Force Hunting For Islamic Terrorists In The Philippines

Duterte Approves Funding for Transfer of Korean Corvette to Philippines

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the budget to fund the transfer of Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy Flight III Pohang-class corvette ROKS Chungju (PCC-762) to the Philippine Navy, this was revealed by MaxDefense Philippines on December 28, 2017.

According to MaxDefense, citing some sources, the announcement was made during the Offshore Combat Force’s year-end party over a week ago.

“Pres. Duterte is said to have signed the DBM recommendation and order to release funding for the transfer of the former ROKN Flight III Pohang-class corvette ROKS Chungju to the Philippine Navy worth Php250 million,” MaxDefense said in its social networking page.

“The officers, men and women to man it would be sent to South Korea by January 2018,” MaxDefense added.

“The PN would be getting the Chungju as it is, except for removal of some ROKN-only equipment and replacement of obsolete items like the navigation radar. But the ship in its pre-retirement form still has its 2 Oto Melara 76mm Compact guns, two twin Otobreda 40mm guns, two triple lightweight torpedo launchers, among others. The PN’s budget request also include acquisition of ammo for these guns,” MaxDefense said.

The Offshore Combat Force is operating under the Philippine Fleet of Philippine Navy.

Philippine Navy commissions first TC-90 into service

The Philippine Navy commissioned the first of five TC-90s into service with an activation and blessing ceremony in Sangley Point, Cavite City on Nov. 21.

Russia Providing PH with AK-103s

The Russian government is expected to turn over 5000 units of Avtomat Kalashnikova AK-103 with a million ammunition on October 25.

Official announcement or confirmation is yet to be made but reliable sources say that Russia will be providing the AK-103 model of Kalashnikov rifle.

AK-103 uses the 7.62×39mm round. It can be fitted with night vision or telescopic sights, and a knife-bayonet or grenade launcher.

It was previously expected that Russia will provide the AK-101 which uses the 5.56×45mm NATO round.

Assault rifles in Philippine military service uses 5.56×45mm NATO round. Department of National Defense – Government Arsenal is also producing the NATO round.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced last week that Russia will be donating 5000 Kalashnikov rifles without providing specific model.

These Russian rifle and ammunition together with 20 military truck will be formally turned over on October 25.

Sharpeye Radar System for Philippine Navy

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have contracted Kelvin Hughes to supply I Band and E/F Band SharpEye™ radars.

The Philippine Navy Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP) was awarded to HHI in October 2016 to build two 2,600 ton frigates for hand over starting in 2020. Kelvin Hughes has announced it is to supply HHI two SharpEye™ navigation radars along with multifunction bridge radar displays for the Philippine Navy FAP.

This follows the announcement by Kelvin Hughes in September that HHI contracted the company to supply the Integrated Navigation Bridge System (INBS) for The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Maritime Sustainment Capability (MSC) Vessel.

The new naval vessels for the Philippine Navy are expected to have enhanced survivability, seakeeping and manoeuvring capability and be operable in up to Sea State 5 and also have stealth characteristics. The vessels (hull numbers P159 and P160) will be further complemented by the low Radar Cross Section (RCS) design of the upmast SharpEye™ radar sensor carbon fibre housing and antenna turning unit. What’s more the reduced probability of intercept by ESM equipment characteristic inherent from the SharpEye™’s 300W low power output further aligns to the requirements derived from the HHI HDF-3000 frigate design.


SharpEye Naval Radar

With its solid-state technology, SharpEye™ radar systems deliver an advanced pulse-compressed Doppler navigation and situational awareness capability that can provide early warning not only of the presence of larger vessels but also small targets and asymmetric threats with a low RCS such as RHIBs, small wooden boats, USVs and jet skis. Operating in I and E/F Band, the new radar will enable the ships to distinguish between genuine targets and environmental clutter even in the most adverse weather conditions.

Keven Hughes to Supply SharpEye Radar For Philippines Navy’s Frigates

Kelvin Hughes is to supply Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) two SharpEye navigation radars along with multifunction bridge radar displays for the Philippine Navy’s Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP).
The Philippine Navy FAP was awarded to HHI in October 2016 to build two 2,600 ton frigates for hand over starting in 2020.

The new naval vessels for the Philippine Navy are expected to be operable in up to Sea State 5 and also have stealth characteristics. The vessels (hull numbers P159 and P160), will be further complemented by the low Radar Cross Section (RCS) design of the upmast SharpEye radar sensor carbon fibre housing and antenna turning unit.

In addition the radar offers the reduced probability of intercept by ESM equipment characteristic inherent from the SharpEye’s 300W low power output further aligns to the requirements derived from the HHI HDF-3000 frigate design.

The SharpEye radar systems deliver an advanced pulse-compressed Doppler navigation and situational awareness capability that can provide early warning not only of the presence of larger vessels but also small targets and asymmetric threats with a low RCS such as RHIBs, small wooden boats, USVs and jet skis.

Operating in I and E/F Band, the new radar will enable the ships to distinguish between genuine targets and environmental clutter even in the most adverse weather conditions.

SharpEye transmits a low power, patented pulse sequence enabling short, medium and long range radar returns to be detected simultaneously. Doppler processing of radar returns provides coherent information concerning a target’s velocity and ensures the detection of very small and slow moving objects.

PH Marine Corps Plans to Get 87 Tactical Combat Vehicles

The Philippine Navy is planning to procure 87 new Armored Tactical Combat Vehicles for the Philippine Marine Corps in 2018 as part of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Second Horizon.

Second Horizon of the ongoing military modernization will start next year and will end 2022. The First Horizon is now on its final year.

According to MaxDefense Philippines, the Navy is allocating PHP2.610 billion for the acquisition of 87 new Armored Tactical Combat Vehicles.

“No specifications has been provided yet, but based on the budget alone we can assume that its a wheeled armored vehicle smaller than the Simba, but definitely larger than an armored Humvee or KIA Light Tactical Vehicle,” MaxDefense said.

MaxDefense added that the procurement of said vehicles may have born out of experience from fighting in Marawi City which mainly required urban warfare operations.

However, MaxDefense noted that “AFP’s procurement plans are so liquid that it keeps on changing.”

Inside The Fight Against ISIS In The Philippines

Philippine Army combat footage vs Maute ISIS in Marawi

Hope the soldier is doing well

Philippine forces using 105mm M101 howitzer in a direct fire role in the urban battle for Marawi

Philippine forces using 105mm M101 howitzer in a direct fire role in the urban battle for Marawi. Geez pic.twitter.com/5E0OctPXqj

— Mike Yeo 杨启铭 (@TheBaseLeg) September 20, 2017

Philippine Navy Buys 3 More Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts

The Department of National Defense (DND) has launched the procurement of three (3) more Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts (MPAC) for the Philippine Navy. These will be the 10th, 11th, and 12th MPACs of the Philippine Navy.

The procurement project has an approved budget for contract (ABC) of PHP270,000,000.00 through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Act Trust Fund 2017.

Pre-Bid Conference was scheduled today, September 15. Deadline for submission of bids and opening of bids will be on September 29.

The Philippine Navy activated in May 2017 the three latest MPACs (488, 489, and 491) which are Mark IIIs. These MPACs were built by a joint venture between Filipino shipbuilder Propmech Corporation and Taiwanese builder Lung Teh Shipbuilding Corporation in Propmech’s Subic facility.

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will be arming these recently activated MPACs with missile and other weapon systems. Delivery of these systems is expected in December this year.