Phippines Plans to buy Indonesian Spy Plane

Irish Air Corps (CASA CN 235 aircraft). (under creative commons)

MANILA, Philippines – The government plans to procure a spy plane from Indonesia and a troop transport aircraft from Italy, the Department of National Defense (DND) said yesterday.

Peter Paul Galvez, DND spokesman, said the long-range maritime patrol and surveillance plane is manufactured in Indonesia under a joint venture agreement with Spain.  (Click here to read more)

Source;

PhilSTAR.com

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PAF to acquire air defense radars--PhilSTAR.com.ph

An Alenia MRCS-403 3D-radar of the Austrian Air Force (imaqe under GNU Free documentation License)

MANILA, Philippines - The Air Force will acquire at least three air defense radars during the term of President Aquino to boost its capabilities in securing the country’s territory.

Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Okol said the radars would be used to protect the country’s airspace.

“We are looking at two to three radars. These may be placed in traditional areas like La Union or Mindoro or possibly in the West Philippine Sea,” Okol told The STAR in a telephone interview yesterday.

He said they are still estimating the cost of the radars. Officials have yet to finalize the details of the acquisition plan... (click here to continue reading)

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Gregorio del Pilar Class Frigates to be equipped with Harpon anti-ship missiles

The Canadian frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334) fires a Harpoon anti-ship missile during a Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) sinking exercise (in public domain)

In a report publish by Philippine online news sites, a ranking Department of National Defense (DND) official said, that the Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates of the Philipine Navy is to be equipped with Harpoon, anti-ship missile system, sophisticated radars capable of detecting and tracking incoming surface threats and an anti-missile and torpedo decoying systems, to make these Frigates a more capable vessels to satisfy our minimum deterrent capability as far as naval defense is concern

The official said the Harpoon is the ideal missile system for the Del Pilar Class, noting that one of their sister-ship, the USCGC Mellon (WHEC-717), has been fitted with the Harpoon missile launchers and test fired the weapons in January, 1990.

Sources:

1. MB.com.ph

2. PhilSTAR.com

3. Balita

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Philippines purchasing an MK38 Mod 2 Gun Systems for Navy

MK 38 Mod 2 Machine Gun System (in public domain)

Based from the US Department of Defense website, the "BAE Systems Land and Armaments Inc., U.S. Combat Systems Division, Louisville, Ky., is being awarded a $24,257,531 firm-fixed-price contract for 21 MK38 Mod 2 machine gun systems and associated spare parts in support of the U.S. Navy and the Philippines."

This contract is a combined purchased of the US Navy and the Philippine Government  under the Foreign Military Sales Program of the United States.

 
Source:

US DoD

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Navy studying if PH needs to buy submarine--Interaksyon.com

HMCS Windsor SSK 877, (in public domain)

MANILA, Philippines -- President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippine Navy is now conducting a study on whether or not it would be practical for the country to acquire its first submarine. (click here to read more)

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Philippines Planning to Buy ASW Helicopters for its Frigates

US Navy SH-3H Sea King helicopter lowers a dipping sonar during a training mission. 
(In Public Domain)

Zambo Times reports that the Philippine government is in the market for an Anti Submarine Warfare Helicopters (ASW) and plans to acquire them between 2013 - 2017.  An ASW capable helicopters are choppers that can hunt submarines and lead other air or sea craft to it and in some cases can even attack the submarine itself.

Citing a military ranking officer, the report says, that the move was part of the military efforts to improve Philippine Naval Services and is included in the government's medium term defense acquisition list for the next four years.

The ASW Helicopters when acquired, will be assigned to the two Gregorio Del Pilar Class Frigates and to the two "Maestrale" class missile frigates from Italy that the DND is eyeing to acquire by 2013.

Source:

1. Zambo Times - retrived on  August 21, 2012

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Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano

Super Tucano at URUBRA I exercise
(Creative Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Super_Tucano_at_URUBRA_I_exercise.jpg)

The Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, also named ALX or A-29 is one of the aircraft being eyed by the Philiipine Government to replace its ageing OV-10 Broncos.

A turboprop aircraft designed for light attack, counter insurgency (COIN), close air support, aerial reconnaissance missions in low threat environments, as well as providing pilot training. 

Designed to operate in high temperature and humidity conditions in extremely rugged terrain, the Super Tucano is highly maneuverable, has a low heat signature, incorporates 4th generation avionics and weapons system to deliver precision guided munitions.

Sources:

1. Wikipedia - Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano

2. Manila Bulletin - Online

3. Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 

4. GMA Network News - Online  

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T-50 Trainer Aircraft from South Korea might be PAF's newest aircraft

T-50 Trainer Aircraft of Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force

(GNU Free Documentation License)

Recently it has been reported that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is eyeing to buy 12 Trainer Jets from the Republic of South Korea.  The Acquisition will cost about PhP 25 Billion once approved, with the government  pushing for the delivery of the first two within a reasonable time, to ensure that in two years, once the planes have entered into service, our pilots are alredy capable of using these planes.

Said planned purchase is to boost PAF's Fighter Attack Aircraft/Lead-in Fighter Trainer jet (FAA/LIFT)  requirements in which  only two SF-211s trainer jets  remain in active service, while four are under going maintenance.

Sources:

1. ABS-CBN News 
2. GMA Network News

3. CNTV

4. Jacarta Post

5. Inquirer News

6. Interaksyon

7. PhilStar
8. Zambo Times
9. Mindanao Examiner

10. Wikipedia - KAI T-50 Golden Eagle
11. Wikipedia - Philippine Air Force

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DND to Acquire Maestrale class frigates from Italy

Maestrale Class frigate of the Italian Navy (In Public Domain)

It has been recently reported that the Philippine Department of Deffense (DoD) is eyeing to purchase from the Italian Government, two of their Maestrale Class Frigates due to be decommsisioned early next year by the Italian Navy. 

According to a report in the Inquirer Global Nation, 

"Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said this would be the first time that the Philippines would have warships with missiles and other modern armaments."

“These are warships,” DND Sec. Voltair Gazmin said in a press conference. “They have antisubmarine capabilities and surface-to-air missiles. This is really for battle. We could get the frigates by November next year.”

The Maestrale class frigates were primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). However, with the ships high flexibility, it can also have an anti-air, and anti-surface operations capability. 

Ships of this class have been widely used in various international missions, either under NATO or ONU flag, and during normal operations of the Italian Navy.

The first of these ships entered in service in early 1982 with the rest of the fleet  launched over the next three years.  

General Characteristics:

Displacement:	3100 tons
Length:	122.7 m
Beam:	12.9 m
Draught:	4.2 m
Propulsion:	2 × GE/Avio General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 2 × D Grandi Motori Trieste BL-230-20-DVM diesels 2 × 5-blade propellers
Speed:	33 knots (21 on diesel)
Range:	6000 nmi at 15 knots
Complement:	24 officers 201 sailors
Armament:	4 × TESEO Mk-2 anti-ship missiles launchers 1 × octuple Aspide SAM launchers 1 × Otobreda 127 mm gun 2 × Oto Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO CIWS 2 × 533 mm torpedo tubes 2 × 324 mm triple torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried:	2 AB-212 helicopters

Sources:

1. ABS-CBN News online

2. Malaya - online
3. Philippine Star online

4. Wikipedia - Maestrale class frigate

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PN gets new Philippine made multi-purpose attack craft

New MPACs
(In Public Domain, www.navy.mil.ph)

The Philippine Navy last August 6, has received two new multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC)  of Filipino designed and made. 

Another MPAC, with modifications of this type was received during the 114th anniversary celebration of the PN last May in which up to a total of 42 units are expected to enter service in the near future.

Taiwanese Built MPACs 

Swedish Combat Boat 90 (CB 90) in the port of Gothenburg
(under creative commons)

The Philippine Navy in May 2009 received the first batch of three Taiwanese-built (MPAC) similar to the Swedish Combat Boat 90 during the 111th Anniversary of the Philippine Navy in May 2009.

The 1st three MPACs are around 15 meters long and are equipped with a water jet system. It has a maximum speed of 40 knots (74 km/h) and could reach around 300 nautical miles (560 km) while traveling on a transit speed of 30 knots (56 km/h). It is made of welded aluminum and can carry 16 fully equipped soldiers and 4 crew members or a payload of 2 tons. 

The ships are armed with one 50-caliber machine gun and two 7.62mm machine guns.

Sources:

Yahoo News
wikipedia - Philippine Navy

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