Datu Kalantiaw Class Frigate

BRP Rajah Humabon (PF11)
(In Public Domain)

The Cannon class destroyer escorts were built primarily for ocean anti-submarine warfare escort service during World War II. The lead ship, USS Cannon (DE-99) was commissioned on 26 September 1943 at Wilmington, Delaware. Of the 116 ships ordered 44 were canceled and six commissioned directly into the Free French Forces. Destroyer escorts were regular companions escorting the vulnerable cargo ships.

The class was also known as the DET type from their Diesel Electric Tandem drive^. The DET's substitution for a turbo-electric propulsion plant was the primary difference with the predecessor Buckley ("TE") class. The DET was in turn replaced with a direct drive diesel plant to yield the design of the successor Edsall ("FMR") class.

Under the Philippine Navy, it was re-clasfied as a Frigate and todate, BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11) formerly the USS Atherton (DE-169), remains as the only confirmed commissioned ship of this class as of 2010.

In Service:

1. BRP Rajah Humabon (PF11)

Source:

Wikipedia - Canon Class Destroyer Escort

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Gregorio del Pilar Class Frigates

BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF15)
(Under Creative Commons)

The Gregorio del Pilar class is a ship class urrently in service to the Philippine Navy, and are currently its largest class of naval combatants in its fleet.   

Formerly used by the US Coast Guard as Hamilton class high endurance cutters, Under the Philippine Navy, after undergoing upgrades and modification it was classified as Frigates.

In Service:

• BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF15)
• BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16) - Currently undergoing refit and modifications

BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16)
(Under Creative Commons)

General Characteristics:

Type:	Frigate
Displacement:	3,250 tons
Length:	378 ft (115 m)
Beam:	43 ft (13 m)
Draft:	8.75 ft (2.67 m)
Installed power:	5,800 hp (4,300 kW)
Propulsion:	Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) system 2× Fairbanks-Morse 38TD8-1/8-12 12-cylinder diesel engines generating 7,000 hp (5,200 kW) 2× Pratt & Whittney FT4A-6 gas turbines producing 36,000 hp (27,000 kW)
Speed:	28 knots (52 km/h) max
Range:	14,000 nautical miles (25,900 km)
Endurance:	45 Days
Boats and landing craft carried:	Two RHIB
Complement:	80
Sensors and processing systems:	Raytheon/Furuno AN/SPS-73 navigation and surface search radar and Sperry Mk 92 mod. 1 Fire Control System
Armament:	1 x Oto Melara Mk.75 76mm/62 gun 6 x M2 Browning 12.7mm/50 machine guns 2 x Loral Hycor Mk.36 6-barrelled Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff (SRBOC) decoy launchers
Aircraft carried:	1 x BO-105C

Source:

Wikipedia - Gregorio del Pilar Class Frigate

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MIguel Malvar Class Corvettes

Philippine Navy ship BRP Cebu (PS-28) off Tabawan Island, 
Tawi-Taw, 27th June 2009
(Under Creative Commons)

The Miguel Malvar class is a class of patrol corvettes in the Philippine Navy, and is considered to be its oldest class of corvettes. Formerly used by the US Navy as Admirable-class minesweepers.

In the Philippine Navy, the vessels after undergoing upgrades and modifications were re-categorized as corvettes.

One ship, the former USN USS Quest (AM-281) was supposedly a member of this class but was converted into a non-combatant Presidential Yacht by the Philippine Navy in 1948 as the RPS Pag-asa (APO-21) which was later renamed as RPS Santa Maria, and as RPS/BRP Mount Samat.

In Active Duty:

1. BRP Miguel Malvar
2. BRP Magat Salamat
3. BRP Sultan Kudarat
4. BRP Cebu
5. BRP Pangasinan
6. BRP Iloilo

General Characteristics

Type:	Patrol Corvette
Displacement:	640 tons (standard), 914 Tons (Full Load)
Length:	184.5 ft (56.2 m)
Beam:	33 ft (10 m)
Draft:	9.75 ft (2.97 m)
Installed power:	2,200 hp
Propulsion:	Main: 2 x GM 12-278A diesel engines Auxiliary: 2 x GM 6-71 diesel engines with 100 kW gen and 1 x GM 3-268A diesel engine with 60 kW gen
Speed:	16 Knots (maximum),
Range:	6,600 nmi at 11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement:	85
Sensors and processing systems:	SPS-50 Surface Search Radar (on PS-23) SPS-21D Surface Search Radar (on PS-19 and PS-28) CRM-NIA-75 Surface Search Radar (on PS-29, PS-31, and PS-32) SPS-53A Surface Search Radar (on PS-20) RCA SPN-18 I/J-band Navigation Radar [2]
Armament:	1 x 3"/50 caliber gun (76 mm) Mk22 2 to 6 Bofors 40 mm gun (single or 1-3 twin) 3 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns 4 x 12.7 mm 50 cal machine guns

Source:

Wikipedia - Gen. Miguel Malvar Corvettes

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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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Six M-II3 Armored Personel Carrier Delivered to Philippine Army

US M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier in Iraq (In Public Domain)

With the PhP4.7B that the AFP got from the conversion of former military bases, 43 of its modernization projects were completed, including the delivery of six M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier and 1,621 night vision fighting system units to the Philippine Army, the Phippine Daily Inqurer reported in March of this year.

M-113 Specifications

Weight	12.3 tonnes (13.6 short tons; 12.1 long tons)
Length	4.863 metres (15 ft 11.5 in)
Width	2.686 metres (8 ft 9.7 in)
Height	2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in)
Crew	2
Passengers	11 passengers
Armor	aluminum 12–38 millimetres (0.47–1.5 in)
Main armament	M2 Browning machine gun
Secondary armament	varies (see text)
Engine	Detroit Diesel 6V53T, 6-cylinder diesel engine 275 hp (205 kW)
Power/weight	22.36 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar, 5 road wheels
Operational range	~480 km (~300 miles)
Speed	67.6 km/h (42.0 mph), 5.8 km/h (3.6 mph) swimming

Sources:

1. Wikipedia - M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier  

2. Inquirer News - Online

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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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BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF15)

BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (Goryo) (PF15)
Docked at Poro Point, La Union for refueling and awaiting for further instructions after being pulled-out from Panatag Shoal.
(Under Creative Commons).

BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15) is a Philippine Navy Gregorio del Pilar class frigate acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Articles and the Foreign Assistance Act when It was decommissioned by the US Coast Guard on March 28, 2011.

Gregorio del Pilar was the second Philippine Navy ship to have borne the same name, the first being another ex-US Coast Guard cutter and is one of the first ex-US Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutters serving the Philippine Navy.

General Characteristics:

Type:                      Frigate

Displacemnet:     Approx. 3,250 tons

Lenght:                  378 ft (115 m)

Beam:                    43 ft (13 m)

Draft:                      8.75 ft (2.67 m)

Installed Power:  5,800 hp (4,300 kW)

Propulsion System: 

      Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) system;

• 2× Fairbanks-Morse 38TD8-1/8-12 12-cylinder diesel engines generating 7,000 hp (5,200 kW); and
• 2× Pratt & Whittney FT4A-6 gas turbines producing 36,000 hp (27,000 kW),

Speed:                  28 knots (52 km/h) max

Range:                 14,000 nautical miles (25,900 km)

Endurance:          45 Days

Sensors and Processing Systems:

• Raytheon/Furuno AN/SPS-73 navigation and surface search radar; and
• Sperry Mk 92 mod. 1 Fire Control System,

Armamaments:

• 1x Mk.75 Oto Melara 76 mm Compact main gun;
• 1x 25mm Chain Gun;
• 6x 50-caliber Machine Guns;
• 2x 20mm Cannons; and
• 2x Loral Hycor Mk.36 6-barrelled Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff (SRBOC) decoy launchers.

Carried:

• Boats and Landing - Rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB)
• Aircraft - BO-105C light helicopter

Aviation Facilities:    retractable hangar and flight deck

Sources: 

1. Wikipedia - BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15). 

2. Official Gazzete of the Republic of the Philippines

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BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16)

BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16)
Philippine Navy's newly acquired vessel, US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas.

(Under Creative Commons)

BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) is a Philippine Navy Gregorio del Pilar class frigate. A high enduance cutter that serverd the US Coast guard From 1968 to 2012. It was decommissioned on March 20 2012 and was acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Articles and the Foreign Assistance Act.

Ramon Alcaraz is the second of several ex-US Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutters that will serve the Philippine Navy.

Sources:

1. Philippine Star - online 

2. Wikipedia - BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16)

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Sokol Combat Utility Helicopter

PAF PZL-W3 Sokol, DND - Sokol Commissioning, March 9, 2012
(Creative Commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/dndphl/6822641988/in/photostream/)

The W-3 Sokół ('Falcon') is the first helicopter to be fully designed and serial-built in Poland. Four of which was delivered to the Philippine Air Force  on February 2012, and was assigned to the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing.

Role:                    Multi Purpose Utility Helicopter

Manufacturer:     PZL-Świdnik

Status:                 Four In Active service, another four to arrive within the Year.

Assignment:       205th Tactical Helicopter Wing

Sources:

1. Official Website of the Phillipine Air Force

2. Wikipedia - W3 Sokol 

3. Philippine Inquirer-Online 

4. Philippine Star - Online  

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BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35)

BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35), CARAT 2005
(Creative Commons,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BRP_Emilio_Jacinto_PS-35.jpg)

The BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) is the lead ship of the three Jacinto class of corvettes, and are considered as one of the most modern ships in the Philippine Navy and currently assigned with the Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet.

She was originally called HMS Peacock (P239) during her service with the Royal Navy. Out of the five ships in its class, three of them, HMS Peacock (P239), HMS Plover (P240), and HMS Starling (P241), were left in Hong Kong until 1997. They were sold to the Philippines as a sign of goodwill for US$ 20 Million, and were officially turned over to the Philippine Navy on 1 August 1997 when Hong Kong was ceded back to China.

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Rizal Class Corvettes

Rizal Class Corvettes in a Philippine Naval Exercise
(In Public Domain)

The Rizal class is a ship class of two patrol corvettes currently in service in the Philippine Navy, and its largest class of corvettes.  

These ships were formerly used by the US and Royal Navy as Auk class minesweepers during the Second World War.   In total, there were a recorded 95 Auk class minesweepers under Allied command during that time.  

Thirty-two minesweepers were ordered by the US (as BAM-1 to 32) intending them to be supplied to the Royal Navy under "Lend-lease", but 12 were retained for USN use and given names and "AM" hull classification prefix while those transferred were given "J" pennant number prefixs which formed the Catherine class.  

After the war, some of these ships found their way in to US Navy researve units. Until in the 60's , under the US Military Assistance Program, two of which were transfered to the Philippines.  These were: USS Murrelet in 1965 (renamed BRP Rizal); and USS Vigilance  in 1967 (renamed BRP Quezon).

When these ships were transfered to the Philipiine Navy, the two vessels have undergone upgrades and modification, and were categorized as corvettes.

In Service:

• BRP Quezon (PS -70)
• BRP Rizal (PS - 74)

General Characteristics

Class and type:	Rizal class
Type:	Patrol Corvette
Displacement:	1,090 tons standard, 1,250 tons full load
Length:	221.67 ft (67.57 m)
Beam:	32.67 ft (9.96 m)
Draft:	10.75 ft (3.28 m)
Installed power:	5,800 shp (4,300 kW)
Propulsion:	2 x GM EMD 16V-645E6 Diesel Engines
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h) maximum
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement:	80
Sensors and processing systems:	Raytheon SPS-5C G/H-band Surface Search Radar DAS 3 I-band Navigation Radar SQS-17B hull-mounted Sonar (high frequency) Mk52 GFCS for 3"/50 guns Mk51 GFCS for 40 mm guns[1]
Armaments:	2 × 3"/50 caliber gun Mk26 dual purpose guns 2 × Twin Bofors 40 mm gun 2 x Twin 20 mm Oerlikon guns 4 x 50 caliber machine guns

Source:

1. Wikipedia - Rizal Class Corvettes

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Jacinto Class Corvettes

BRP Apolinario Mabini PS-36
(Creative Commons, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philippine_Navy_PS-36_at_Balikatan_2010-1.jpg)

The Jacinto class is a ship class of three patrol corvettes currently in service with the Philippine Navy. The ships formerly served in the Royal Navy's Hong Kong Squadron as Peacock class patrol vessels until 1997.

BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35)
(Creative Commons, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BRP_Emilio_Jacinto_PS-35.jpg) 

Launched as a series of five patrol vessels, the Peacock class were originally part of the Hong Kong Squadron of the Royal Navy. The ships were built by Hall Russell in the United Kingdom and were commissioned into Royal Navy service from 1983 to 1984. The class was designed specifically for patrol duties in Hong Kong waters. As well as "flying the flag" and providing a constant British naval presence in the region. 

BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37)
(Creative Commons, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BRP_Artemio_Ricarte_PS37.jpg)

As a sign of goodwill, three of these ships: HMS Peacock (P239); HMS Plover (P240), and HMS Starling (P241) were sold to the Philippines, and were officially turned over to the Philippine Navy in 1997, when the United Kingdom transfered the sovereignty of Hong Kong  to the People's Republic of China

The three vessels that were transfered have undergone weapons, electronics, propulsion and hull upgrades in Philippine Navy service, increasing their capabilities as compared to the original Peacock class vessels.

Ships in Class

• BRP Emilio Jacinto
• BRP Aplolinario Mabini
• BRP Artemio Ricarte

General Characteristics:

Type:	Patrol Corvette
Displacement:	712 tons full load
Length:	205.4 ft (62.6 m)
Beam:	32.8 ft (10.0 m)
Draft:	8.9 ft (2.7 m)
Installed power:	14,188 hp (10,580 kW)
Propulsion:	2 x APE-Crossley SEMT-Pielstick 18 PA6 V 280 Diesel engines 2 x shafts 1 x Schottel S103 LSVEST drop-down, shrouded loiter retractable propeller, 181 shp (135 kW)
Speed:	25 knots (46 km/h) (sustained)
Range:	2,500 nmi (4,600 km) at 17 knots (31 km/h)
Boats and landing craft carried:	2 x Avon Searaider 5.4m 30 knots (56 km/h) 10-man Semi-rigid boat aft
Complement:	31
Sensors and processing systems:	Sperry Marine Naval BridgeMaster E Series Surface Search Radar Kelvin Hughes Type 1006 Navigation Radar Ultra Electronics Command and Control System Radamec 1500 Series 2500 Electro-Optical Tracking/Fire Control System
Armament:	1 × Oto Melara 76 mm Compact DP gun 1 x 25 mm M242 Bushmaster on MSI Defence Seahawk mount 2 × 20 mm Mk. 16 cannons on Mk.68 mounts 2 × M2 Browning 12.7 mm/50 caliber machine guns
Armor:	Belted Steel

Source:

1. Wikipedia - Jacinto Class Corvettes 

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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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