Philippines DND and HHI to Sign P16-B Fregate Agreement

The Department of National Defense (DND) and a South Korean firm are set to sign a multibillion-peso deal for the purchase of two ships for the Navy, the first military contract to be inked under the Duterte administration.

The agency issued a notice of award to Hyundai Heavy Industries Inc. last Aug. 18 and a contract could be signed this month for the two new frigates, DND public affairs chief Arsenio Andolong told The STAR yesterday.

The notice of award is a document that declares a supplier as the winning bidder. It was formally accepted by Hyundai Heavy Industries last Wednesday.

“We were informed though that anytime this week, officials from Hyundai will be arriving in Manila to receive and review the Notice of Award,” Andolong said.

“Ten days after the formal receipt … the notice to proceed and contract for the project will be signed,” he added.

The P16-billion ships acquisition project is one of the biggest items in the military’s modernization program. It aims to enhance the Philippines’ territorial defense and disaster response capabilities.

Four companies submitted bids for the project: Hyundai, Indian firm Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Spanish shipbuilder Navantia S.A. and South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co.

Navantia and Daewoo were disqualified because of their failure to meet some technical requirements.

Garden Reach offered to supply the two frigates for P15.08 billion while Hyundai’s bid was P15.74 billion. Garden Reach was declared the lowest bidder but was disqualified during the post-qualification phase because of its failure to meet some financial requirements.

“Per government procurement law, if it is determined at the outset that the bidder has no financial capacity or it has financial capacity but its resources are thinly spread throughout too many ongoing contracts, it will not be allowed to participate in the bidding process,” Andolong said.

HDF-2000H is derivative and second generation of HDF-2000 with helicopter landing deck and hangar, applying stealth technology (image : HHI)

Hyundai, the company that offered the second lowest bid, was considered and was able to meet the post-qualification requirements.

“After the contract has been signed by both parties, DND will issue a notice to proceed for Hyundai to fulfill its contract obligation within the specified period of time,” Andolong said.

Qustioned from STX

A South Korean firm, however, questioned the DND’s decision to divide the frigate acquisition project into two components.

STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. said the project, which was originally priced at P18 billion was divided into the bidding for the two vessels and their weapon system and the bidding for ammunition.

STX, one of the companies that expressed interest to join the bidding, said the Philippine government “shall be grossly disadvantaged with the modification in the bid structure, aside from committing a serious violation of the country’s existing procurement laws.”

“Splitting the Authorized Budget of Contract (ABC) and the items to be bid out after the first stage of the bidding, and before the second stage, is tantamount to changing the terms and conditions of the bid in the middle of the game,” the company said in a statement.

According to the company, the bidders were made to believe that the approved budget of contract is P18 billion and the items for bidding are the vessels, weapons system and ammunition.

“It is thus unfair for everyone, especially for those who failed to pass the initial stage, to have the terms substantially changed when the bid has already been submitted,” STX Korea said.

The Korean firm believes that the DND Bids and Awards Committee purposely split the project to make it appear that the winning bidder has offered the lowest price, now at P16 billion for the two vessels alone.

“One major effect of such modification is that there would be limited number of possible bidders for the ammunition considering that launchers are usually tailor fitted for certain kinds of ammunition.”

More Ships, Planes, Combat Gear for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 2016

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is expecting more assets to be added to its inventory in 2016 amid its efforts to build a minimum credible defense.

The military’s boost of assets occurs in the wake of China’s sweeping expansion in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Some of the assets expected in 2016 include the Philippine Navy’s first strategic sealift vessels (SSVs) due to arrive in May.

The government has earlier ordered two SSVs from Indonesia worth P3.87 billion from the AFP modernization fund. As of mid-December, the first vessel is 87 percent complete, Navy spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said recently.

The other SSV, also under construction, will be delivered to the Philippines in 2017.

IHS Jane’s, British publishing company which specializes in defense topics, said that these vessels have a full load displacement of 11,583 tons. It can indicate a crew complement of 121 and a lift capacity for 500 troops. It can also accommodate up to two medium helicopters on its flight deck.The SSVs have a maximum range of 9,360 nautical miles, a top speed of 16 knots and an endurance of 30 days.

Two C-130 cargo planes from the United States, which were acquired through excess defense articles, are also expected in the first quarter of 2016. This will be added to the three operational C-130s in the Air Force inventory.

Two light-lift aircrafts from PT Dirgantara Indonesia worth P814 million are also expected to arrive in 2016. It will complement the Nomad and Islander planes used in transport of troops and cargo, maritime patrol, airborne operations or search and rescue.

Two more brand new FA-50 fighter jets, part of the dozen acquired by the Philippine government, will arrive in 2016. The first two already arrived last December and the rest are expected in the next two years.

This project is the biggest capability upgrade of the AFP at P18.9 billion. It comes 10 years after the Air Force retired its F-5 fighters.

Some of the other assets expected in 2016 are amphibious assault vehicles, radios and mortars. Night fighting systems for the Philippine Army worth P1.1 billion for 4,464 sets are also expected in 2016.Also to watch out for is the possibility of the arrival of a Hamilton-class cutter, the same type as the Navy’s current biggest ships, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Gregorio del Pilar and a research vessel pledged by US President Barack Obama during his visit in Manila last November.

2015

In 2015, the Air Force returned to supersonic age for the first time in 10 years with the delivery of the first two of 12 FA-50s. Other assets delivered were eight brand new combat utility helicopters, eight attack helicopters, two naval choppers, three brand new medium-lift air planes and over a hundred armored personnel carriers.

The Navy also received two landing craft heavy from Australia.

Last November, President Benigno Aquino III approved the “multi-year-contract” worth an estimated P44 billion for seven projects that was requested by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. These are two frigates, anti-submarine helicopters, amphibious assault vehicles for the Navy, munitions for the FA-50s, close-air support aircraft, air surveillance and long-range patrol aircraft.

“The  delivery of these new assets is expected to be completed by 2017 or early 2018,” Fernando Manalo, Department of National Defense undersecretary for finance, munitions, material and modernization told INQUIRER.net.

Chinese website publishes imagery and photos of SCS islands occupied by Philippines

Japan may give planes to Philippines for South China Sea patrols

Japan wants to give planes to the Philippines that Manila could use for patrols in the South China Sea, sources said, a move that would deepen Tokyo's security ties with the Southeast Asian nation most at odds with Beijing over the disputed waterway.
Four sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Japan was looking to offer three Beechcraft TC-90 King Air planes that could be fitted with basic surface and air surveillance radar.
They said talks within the Japanese government were preliminary and would need to overcome legal hurdles. Japan had yet to formally propose the planes as an alternative to more sophisticated Lockheed Martin P3-C aircraft that Manila wants to track Chinese submarine activity, they added.

Senior Philippine military and defence officials in Manila said they had not heard about the possible donation of the twin-turboprop TC-90 aircraft, which Japan uses to train military pilots.
"The Philippines doesn't have enough aircraft to conduct regular patrols over the South China Sea," one of the sources in Japan said, declining to be identified because he was not authorised to talk to the media.Donating aircraft, even small planes, would represent a military upgrade for the Philippines, which has only a handful of fixed-wing planes it can deploy on maritime patrols.

Tokyo has no claims in the South China Sea, but is worried about Beijing's construction of seven artificial islands in the waterway's Spratly archipelago, which will extend Chinese military reach into sea lanes through which much of Japan's ship-borne trade passes.Concerns over the islands have dominated regional meetings in Kuala Lumpur this week between Southeast Asia and countries including Japan, China and the United States.

Equipping Manila with maritime-capable patrol planes would dovetail with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's more muscular security agenda but likely anger China, which has repeatedly accused Japan of interfering in the South China Sea dispute. A spokesman for Japan's Ministry of Defense said working level talks had been set up to explore possible cooperation in defence equipment with the Philippines but that there was no "concrete plan" to give Manila the TC-90s.

Philippine Defence Minister Voltaire Gazmin told Reuters he was unaware of any Japanese plan to supply the aircraft. Top Philippine generals said they were also unaware of any proposal but welcomed the growing security cooperation with Japan.China's Defence Ministry expressed concern about the plan.

Philippines Navy commissions 2 landing craft heavy ships from Australia

The Navy on Thursday commissioned into service the two ships donated by Australia in a development seen to boost the Philippines's disaster response capabilities.

The two Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels were formally handed over to the Philippines in a ceremony held in Cairns, Australia, Navy public affairs chief Commander Lued Lincuna said.A memorandum of understanding transferring the two ships to the Philippines was signed by Navy chief Vice Adm. Jesus Millan and Royal Australian Navy chief Vice Adm. Tim Barret.The LCH vessels are expected to arrive in the Philippines in the first week of August.In his acceptance speech, Millan thanked the Australian Navy for donating the ships to the Philippine military, one of the weakest in the region.The two LCH vessels are expected to enhance the Philippines's capability to transport personnel, equipment and aid during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

"The vessels will also be useful in transporting troops from one operational area to another,” Lincuna said.The two ships will be named after indigenous tribes of the Philippines. It is a tradition of the Navy to name landing craft ships after tribes.One of the ships will be named BRP Ivatan after an indigenous group in Batanes while the other will be called BRP Batak after a tribe in Palawan. The two former vessels of the Royal Australian Navy used to be known as HMAS Tarakan and Brunei.
In an earlier interview, Millan said the Navy has five LCH in its inventory but only three of them are operational.

The Australian government announced its plan to provide the two transport ships to the Philippines in January. The donation will include a package of spare parts, according to the Australian defense ministry.The two vessels were turned over to the Philippine Navy after being refurbished with new safety and navigation equipment.

The vessels were decommissioned from Australian service at a ceremony in Cairns on Nov. 19, 2014.The Australian Embassy previously said the lack of sealift capability hampered efforts to help Philippine coastal areas hit by typhoon "Yolanda" (international name "Haiyan") in 2013.The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to disasters because of its location. About 20 typhoons, five to seven of which are destructive, enter the country every year.

Philippines President Aquino Proposed Php172 billion for DND in 2016

he Education, Public Works and Highways and the National Defense departments continue to have the biggest allocation in the proposed Php3.002 trillion 2016 national budget, which President Benigno Aquino III approved Monday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement, said the planned national budget for next year is 15.2 percent higher than this year's Php2.606 trillion and accounts to about 19.5 percent of the country's total output.

But while the Department of Education (DepEd) received the highest allocation, it is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Health (DOH) that were given big increases.

DepEd's proposed budget for next year amounts to Php436.5 billion, or 18.9 percent higher than its Php367.1 billion budget this year.

Meanwhile, the proposed budget for DPWH and DOH jumped by 32 percent and 25.2 percent, respectively.

DPWH got a proposed budget amounting to Php401.14 billion from this year's Php303.2 billion, while DOH's budget for 2016 amounts to Php128.5 billion from Php103.9 billion this year.

Coloma attributed the hike in these two departments' budget to "efforts to boost public infrastructure development and support economic expansion as well as to improve health care services especially to the poor and most vulnerable sectors of society."

The bid to put in place necessary infrastructure were stressed by the President during the Cabinet meeting, he said after the Chief Executive "directed all Cabinet members to intensify efforts at completing the delivery of programs, especially those on public infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of "Yolanda"-affected and other calamity areas."

Department of National Defense

Relatively, the proposed budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) next year amounts to Php172 billion, higher than this year's Php144.5 billion; and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is Php156 billion from Php141.4 billion this year.

On the other hand, proposed budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for next year amounts to Php107.6 billion, slighlty lower than its Php108.2 billion budget this year.

Coloma, in a text message to PNA, said the adjustment in the department's proposed 2016 budget "is not big or significant" since other agencies focused on the delivery of social services such as education, health and housing were proposed to have budget increases.

The planned 2016 national budget is scheduled to be submitted to Congress on July 28, 2015, a day after the President delivers his final State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Earlier, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said debt service under the proposed budget for next year accounts for 14 percent of the total budget at about Php419 billion.

Also, 85 percent of next year's proposed borrowing program will be sourced on-shore while the balance of 15 percent will come from foreign creditors with the bias still on domestic borrowing to lessen foreign exchange risks.

Relatively, Abad said infrastructure spending for next year was placed at Php768 billion, which already includes those for local government units (LGUs).

The government has been increasing its infrastructure spending and targets this to account to about five percent of GDP by 2016 to ensure that necessary infrastructure would be in place to sustain the strong domestic growth. 

Philippines, Japan Hold Naval Drills in South China Sea

The Philippines and Japan, which each have bitter maritime disputes with China, have conducted their first ever bilateral naval exercises.The day-long drills Tuesday in the South China Sea involved two Japanese destroyers and a Philippine Navy frigate, according to Manila.

Philippines officials insisted the drills were not meant to send a message to China, but were instead focused on improving military capabilities."This is for safety purposes, just to avoid encounters at sea, unusual incidents," Philippine Navy chief Jesus Millan told.

But China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chungying on Tuesday made it clear that Beijing remained concerned with the drills."We have noticed the relevant report and will pay close attention to it. As you can see, at present the overall situation of South China Sea is stable. We hope the relevant country can respect the efforts and willingness of the regional countries who are protecting the peace and stability in the region by themselves, do not hype up the tension everywhere and do not take actions that could harm the security and mutual trust among the regional countries and actions that could affect regional peace and stability," she said.

Hua also accused Manila of "repeatedly" violating international laws and "stirring up" tensions. "The evidence has proved again that the Philippines is truly a rule breaker and the trouble maker," she said.

Scarborough Shoal

Philippines officials told local media that Tuesday's drills would be held within the Philippine's 44-kilometer contiguous zone, near Corregidor Island, where there is no territorial dispute with China.

About 300 kilometers to the west lies the reefs, rocks, and rich fishing grounds of Scarborough Shoal, which is claimed by Manila and Beijing. Following a 2012 standoff, China seized the strategic shoal and has prevented Philippine fishing boats from reaching the area.

Life of Philippines marines on board the Sierra Madre, a World War II-era tank landing ship near Thomas Shoal

Ship wreck serves as Philippines territory inside the Thomas Shoal.

http://asian-defence-news.blogspot.in/2014/04/philippine-sailors-gloat-after-china.html

Philippine Navy BRP Ramon Alcaraz fires its 76mm Oto Melara gun - Kakadu 2014

BRP Ramon Alcaraz fires its 76mm Oto Melara gun while in a formation with HMAS Sydney and JS Hatakaze during the live-firing gun exercise off the seas of Darwin as part of Kakadu 2014.

Photo - Royal Australian Navy

Philippines Navy changes tactic, eyes more bases amid sea row

THE Navy will soon be repositioning its vessels in a strategic naval base in Palawan to help the troops securing the country’s sovereignty amid the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, an official said on Sunday.The naval base on Oyster Bay and at the headquarters of the Naval Forces West, both on Ulugan Bay, will be in the spotlight when President Benigno Aquino III visits Palawan as the guest speaker during the Navy’s 116th anniversary on Tuesday, said Marine Col. Edgard Arevalo, head of the Navy’s Civil Military Operations Group.

He said Aquino will visit Oyster Bay, the headquarters of the Naval Forces West and the piers being developed in the area.Oyster Bay and the wharves in Naval Forces West will accommodate dozens of medium and large naval ships, and both are being developed fast to hasten the response time of troops during emergencies, Arevalo said.“When fully developed, the bases will shorten the travel time of our vessels and minimize logistical expenditures,” he said.The ships in Puerto Princesa City are the ones being deployed in the West Philippine Sea, but those have to travel several nautical miles  to reach the western side of the sea, consuming too much time and fuel.

But once Oyster Bay is finally converted into a modern naval base it will be able to accommodate destroyers and even cruiser ships.Arevalo said the navy would also be putting up a repair and construction yard at the naval base.“We will be able to save around 20,000 liters of diesel to our support vessels and shorten the travel time by around 32 hours in the deployment of ships to the West Philippine Sea,” Arevalo said.The Philippine government recently proposed giving US troops access to Oyster Bay under the two countries’ Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

The repositioning of vessels in Palawan will boost the morale of the troops stationed there, particularly the Marines manning the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal, Arevalo said.
He said the main purpose of stationing vessels on Oyster Bay is to bring the Navy headquarters in Manila closer to the troops manning the command post in Palawan.


http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/05/26/navy-changes-tactic-eyes-more-bases-amid-sea-row/

Philippines to give US forces access to up to five military bases

Up to five Philippine military bases will be made available for U.S. forces to rotate aircraft, ships, equipment and troops, Manila's chief negotiator of a new security pact said on Friday, as the Philippines looks to counter China's rising power in the region.A new 10-year military agreement, which also covers storage of equipment for maritime security and humanitarian assistance, was signed with the United States last week, hours before President Barack Obama arrived for a two-day visit to Manila.

"Right now, the discussions would be ranging from three to five Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) bases," said Pio Lorenzo Batino, a defense undersecretary and head of the negotiating panel, told a news conference. "That's not final."He said the army's jungle training base in Fort Magsaysay, north of Manila, was "ideal location" for the United States because the two oldest allies in the region regularly hold joint exercises there.Military sources familiar with the discussions said the United States has also requested access to three former U.S. bases -- Clark airfield, Subic bay, Poro Point -- and Camp Aguinaldo, the military general headquarters in Manila.

The United States is also considering whether to seek access to four civil airports - Palawan, Cebu, General Santos, and Laoag - as well as Batanes airfield for refueling and emergency servicing, the sources said. There are also nearby bases in Cebu and Palawan.Defense and military officials said the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) will boost the Philippines' defense capabilities.Territorial disputes have made the South China Sea, believed to have rich deposits of oil and gas, a potential flashpoint for the region.Other countries and territories with competing claims include Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
China has become increasingly assertive in the disputed waters, seizing control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and has been blockading Second Thomas Shoal, where a Philippine Navy transport ship was deliberately run aground in 1999 to establish a presence.

Philippine, Vietnam navies to unite against China

A Vietnamese naval soldier stands quard at Thuyen Chai island in the Spratly archipelago January 17, 2013.

CREDIT: REUTERS/QUANG LE

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/11/us-philippines-vietnam-insight-idUSBREA3901520140411?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

The Philippine navy will soon return to a South China Sea island it lost to Vietnam 40 years ago to drink beer and play volleyball with Vietnamese sailors, symbolizing how once-suspicious neighbors are cooperating in the face of China's assertiveness in disputed waters.Diplomats and experts describe the nascent partnership as part of a web of evolving relationships across Asia that are being driven by fear of China as well as doubts among some, especially in Japan, over the US commitment to the region.

When US President Barack Obama visits Asia this month he will see signs that once-disparate nations are strategizing for the future, even though he will likely seek to shore-up faith in America's "pivot" back to the region.Among the new network of ties: growing cooperation between Japan and India; Vietnam courting India and Russia; and Manila and Hanoi, the two capitals most feeling China's wrath over claims to the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, working more closely together. The Philippines and Vietnam are also talking to Malaysia about China.

"We are seeing a definite trend here, one that is likely to accelerate," said Rory Medcalf, a regional security specialist at Australia's independent Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney."It is quite a creative dance as countries hedge and try to cover themselves for multiple possible futures."While it was unlikely the new-found relationships would become military alliances, there was an intensity to their strategic discussions, including the sharing of assessments about China's rise and influence, Medcalf said.

Regional diplomats confirmed increasing levels of trust at a working level, as countries find that China's projection of naval power into Asia's waters is driving them together.

Bidding for P270-M Multi Purpose Attack Craft for Philippines Navy Deal Fails

The bidding for the supply of three multi-purpose attack craft for the Philippines Navy failed as bidders did not meet the documentary requirements set by the government.Five parties expressed interest on the P270-million project, which seeks to boost the Navy’s operational readiness in maritime security, domain awareness and mobility for territorial defense operations.

These are the joint venture of Propmech Corp. and Taiwan’s Lung Teh Shipbuilding; the joint venture of Stoneworks Specialist International Corp. and Indonesia’s Multi Prima; Rovia Road Yacht Boat Builder, Colorado Shipyard Corp. and Hong Kong’s Armacraft Co. Ltd.; and Santiago Shipyard and Shipbuilding Corp.Only four of the five companies that bought the bid documents submitted offers. Local firm Santiago Shipyard and Shipbuilding Corp. did not join the bidding because it lacked time to comply with documentary requirements.

None of the bidders, however, was able to fully satisfy the requirements under the procurement law.Most of the bidders failed to submit a detailed bill of quantities, a document that specifies all the items and services they plan to provide.The submission of the detailed document is required under the law to discourage lump sums, which have been perceived as a possible source of corruption.

One of the bidders, the joint venture of Stoneworks and Multi Prima, failed to present a certification from the Indonesian embassy that the English translation of its documents was accurate.Because of the unsuccessful bidding, the documents of the project will be returned to the Navy for mandatory review.Security sources told The STAR that the Bids and Awards Committee is likely to hold another public bidding for the project.The project involves the purchase of the three vessels and initial integrated logistics support, including crew training. A separate project or lot will involve the acquisition of advanced weapons system, including missile launch systems.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/07/14/bidding-p270-m-navy-deal-fails

Phillipines Department of National Defense (DND) Weighs Options on P3-b Radar

American FPS-117

Elta ELM 2288 Radar

 The Department of National Defense is looking at two options in its plan to purchase three units of Long-Range Surveillance Radar which the Philippine Air Force needs.The radar units will be fitted into  the lead-in training fighter jets  the DND  will buy from South Korea.

The radar units will cost P3 billion or a little more and it’s all up to the Defense officials to decide whether US or Israeli firms will firm up the contract.The planned acquisition came after   President Benigno Aquino III earmarked a P75-billion budget to make Defense and military equipment meet  the “minimum credible defense”.

The US is offering its TPS-77 model which is very similar to the FPS-117 the American are using.But the DND and PAF are also considering the Israel-made Elta ELM 2288 Radar system.

PH Eyeing 3rd Hamilton Cutter from US?

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/83361/uss-michigan-us-guided-missile-sub-to-dock-on-tuesday-in-subic

A defense source said the government was reportedly negotiating for a third Hamilton-class from the US Coast Guard under the US Foreign Military Sale (FMS), similar to the terms that covered its earlier acquisition of the first two Hamilton cutters that were renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz.The US Coast Guard decommissioned the high-endurance ship a long time ago but placed it on its excess defense materials for interested countries.

Up to three C-130s are also expected to be acquired by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to boost its lift transport capability, the source added. PAF  currently only has three operational C-130s.USS Michigan, US guided-missile sub, to dock on Tuesday in Subic

 The USS Michigan (SSGN 727), an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine, will arrive in Subic Bay on Tuesday. Its arrival coincides with the resumption of the sixth round of talks between the negotiating panels of Manila and Washington for increased rotational presence of American forces in the country.
In a statement, the US embassy in Manila said the warship’s visit is “for a routine port call that highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.”  “This visit will allow the ship to replenish supplies as well as give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation.  While in Subic the sailors of the USS Michigan will visit a school that helps persons with disabilities, and visit the Olongapo City Museum to learn more about Filipino culture and history,” the embassy statement said.

The USS Michigan is part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and is homeported in Puget Sound, Washington.  It is commanded by Capt. Erik A. Burian and crewed by approximately 150 sailors.The submarine was commissioned on September 11, 1982 and is the third United States Navy vessel to bear the name of the state. In 2003, the Michigan entered the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington for conversion from a Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine into a Guided Missile Submarine.

In June 2007, the new USS Michigan SSGN-727 was returned to service as one of only four SSGN's in the submarine fleet.

Strategic Sealift Vessel of the Philippine Navy Awarded to PT PAL

The Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Navy (PN) has selected Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL (Persero) to build 2 Landing Platform Docks (also known as the Strategic Sealift Vessels or SSV). PT PAL's executives confirmed that they already received the Notice of Award as of 1st week of January.

A contract was already signed between PT PAL and the DND/PN as of the end of January 2014, thus finalizing the start of construction of the 2 ships for the PN. It is expected that the first ship will be delivered to the PN within 2 years, or by around February 2016, with the second ship delivered by around February 2017. 

Philippines to Bolster Surveillance with new Maritime Air Patrols, Radar Stations

The Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) plans to acquire two long-range patrol aircraft at an investment of US$135 million, (P5.98 billion). Support facilities for these aircraft will be established at the Lipa, Palawan and Zamboanga airfields located at the western and southern perimeters of the Sulu Sea.

Philippine Air Force Signs Contract for Eight AW109 Power helicopters

Click to see hi-res

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Philippine Air Force has signed a contract for eight AW109 Power light twin helicopters.

These aircraft will be used to perform a range of duties including homeland security, armed reconnaissance and close support. Deliveries will start in 2014.

The contract also includes initial logistics support and training for aircrew and maintenance personnel.

Philippine Coast Guard to receive 10 patrol boats from Japan

 
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Coast Guard is set to hire some 300 new personnel to man 10 new patrol boats expected to arrive from Japan.
PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said they would prioritize applicants who would fit the qualifications of those who will man the new acquisitions.

“We need to recruit people with maritime-related courses such as marine engineers and marine navigation course. But we would also be needing technical experts such as those who have mechanical, welding and electrical skills or background,” said Balilo.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario discussed with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, during the latter’s visit early this week, a loan agreement for the Philippines’ procurement of 10 multi-role response vessels for the Coast Guard.

The new patrol vessels, which are expected to arrive in 2014, are expected to boost the country’s territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea.
PCG usually accepts applicants who finished even non-maritime-related courses.
“But we should now prepare for our new assets. We should prepare the right people or the crew and asset management team who would be in charge of our new vessels’ maintenance,” Balilo explained.
He added that they have one year to hire the needed personnel, who would be assigned for deck operation, navigation, gunnery and engineering.

Those who would be selected would undergo one-year training on board the new ships.