The Philippines is an archipelagic state and has one of the world’s longest coastlines and a place of thousand islands. Now the country faces security challenges. Ranging from the West Philippine Sea dispute, intrusions of foreign ships, and piracy, the NavyNavy needs to tackle these tough challenges.
With the procurement of the Philippine Navy’s newest hardware, these challenges may lessen or totally be eliminated. So here is the list of Philippine Navy’s modern equipment to fight these obstacles.
Philippine Navy commissions two AW159 helicopters
The Philippine Navy (PN) commissioned two Leonardo AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopters and four Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicles (KAAVs) in a ceremony held in June 2020 at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Cavite City.
The AW159s, which arrived in the Philippines in May 2019 as part of a PHP5.4 billion (USD101 million) contract signed with Leonardo in 2016, feature anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities and will serve with the Naval Air Wing’s Squadron MH-40 at the Danilo Atienza Air Base.
The rotorcraft are expected to be deployed from the PN’s two José Rizal-class frigates,
In the ASW role, the AW159s can be equipped with active dipping sonar, sonobuoys, depth charges, and torpedoes, as Jane’s previously reported. In the anti-surface warfare role, the helicopters can be fitted with anti-ship missiles, rockets, and guns.
Amphibious Assault Vehicle
The service also commissioned the first four of eight KAAVs ordered in April 2016 from South Korean defense company Hanwha Techwin for PHP 2.42 billion.
The vehicles, which arrived in the country in the first week of May, are armed with .50 caliber machine guns and 40 mm grenade and smoke launchers and will be operated by the Philippine Marine Corps.
The remaining 4 arrived in august and already active on the service. The Navy wants to add 16 AAVs for the use of additional landing platform dock.
Corvettes
Recently the Philippine Navy received the recondition Pohang Class from South Korea. As of now, this warship is one of the most capable ships in the Philippine Navy. This warship is rename to Pohang-class corvette BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39).
The Memorandum of Understanding is basically an agreement between Hyundai Heavy Industries and the Department of National Defense on the construction of two brand new corvettes worth P28 billion.
The Philippine Navy is also looking forward to getting another Pohang-class corvette from South Korea, where the country’s Navy is going to decommission some remaining Pohang Warship.
Fast Attack & Interdiction Craft – Missile Capable (FAIC-M)
The Philippine Navy is also looking to acquire eight fast attack interdiction craft with missiles through government-to-government deals, which would hopefully be signed before the year ends.
PKMs are medium-sized naval craft that functions are patrol boat and are generally armed with machine guns and cannons up to 25mm, 30mm and 40mm in caliber.
According to Emperad, he would like the eight fast attack interdiction craft missile from Israel worth P10 billion to be signed first among all the upcoming contracts “because it is a priority project of the President.”
These Shaldag boats are seen to replace the Philippine Navy’s patrol killer medium.
Offshore Patrol Vessel
Lorenzana said an initial contract between the Department of National Defense (DND) and the leading global shipbuilder, Austal Philippines based in this western coastal town here would amount to PHP30-billion for six Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Philippine Navy.
Austal is offering a larger version of its 80-meter Cape-class patrol vessels being used by the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force. Earlier, Lorenzana said the PN is preferring a government-to-government approach in acquiring the vessels.
The OPVs are part of Horizon Two of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program and expected to replace the World War II corvettes and minesweepers still in PN service as of this time.
Landing Platform Dock
The Department of National Defense (DND), through the Revised Armed Forces Modernization Program, is allocating the sum of PHP5.56 billion for the acquisition of two brand-new landing docks for the Philippine Navy (
The contract includes four landing craft utility and four units of rigid hull inflatable boats with integrated logistic supports. Winning bidders must be able to deliver the military vessels within 1,095 days.
Multi-purpose attack craft
Empedrad said they have also programmed the acquisition of 12 MPAC for the second phase of the modernization program.
“We also programmed to acquire 12 more MPAC in the second horizon until we reach our desired force mix of 42 MPAC,” he said.
The three newly-acquired MPAC is in addition to the three missile-fitted fast attack craft of the Philippine Navy.
The new fast attack craft will be placed under the 4th Boat Attack Division of the Philippine Fleet activated last September 12.
FRIGATES
BRP Jose Rizal Frigates (FF-150), the Philippine Navy’s first-ever guided-missile frigate, will be undergoing various sea trials from November 23 to 27. These warships are expected to be delivered in 2020.
These ships are capable of conducting Anti-Air Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and Electronic Warfare Operations. It is fully equipped with Surface-to-Air and Surface-to-Surface Missiles, torpedoes, launchers, and weapon systems.
The contract for the two ships is placed at PHP16 billion with another PHP2 billion for weapon systems and munitions.
