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PBBM’s push may result in Navy’s confirmed sub acquisition program
W
By Rex Anthony Naval
ILL President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s announcement that the plan to acquire submarines for the Philippine Navy “is not off the table” provide the impetus needed to enable the Philippine Navy (PN) to once and for all acquire these highly specialized and sophisticated warships to beef up its fleet? Marcos’s pronouncements reignited the interest of defense enthusiasts on these stealthy submersible vessels when he said, on the sidelines of the 126th PN founding anniversary on May 26, that offers are coming from different countries regarding the Navy’s possible submarine acquisition program. “There is a plan. But it’s still being developed, because the commitment to operate a submarine is not a small commitment. It is a very large commitment because of the training that is involved, the equipment that is involved and the operational requirements that are involved are quite significant,” the President said, partly in Filipino. Acquiring submarines for the Navy, the Chief Executive added, is still part of the plan but for the moment, the military is still focusing on its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. “So, it is still part of our plan. But right now, we are in the middle of developing mostly our anti-submarine capabilities. So, we will do that first, and then hopefully when
the time comes and the conditions are agreeable, then we might be able to acquire those submarines,” he stressed. Also, Marcos said some of the countries making submarine offers also come with proposals to build the submersibles here in the Philippines. Some of the countries that earlier expressed interest to participate in the PN submarine acquisition program are France, South Korea, India and Turkey. He added that such proposals are important as such would boost the country’s defensive capabilities and create additional job opportunities. “If they are built here and we can actually build submarines here and provide those submarines to other countries, then that’s another source of jobs, and of income and increased capability for our Navy,” the President said. Earlier, the Department of National Defense (DND) said acquiring submarines for the PN is not a priority at the moment as the department is focusing on the
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rides an FA-50PH Philippine military plane during a flight capability demonstration at the Clark Air Base, Pampanga, on March 7, 2023. MALACAÑANG PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE VIA AP
implementation of modernization contracts signed by the previous administration. These included the contracts for the two missile corvettes to be acquired from South Korea, the BrahMos missile system from India, 32 more S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters from Poland, and another six offshore patrol vessels also from South Korea. The funding for these contracts is already assured by the government. “Although submarines are on our wish list for Horizon 3, the Department is prioritizing the implementation of contracts signed during the previous administration, cognizant of the limitations in the resources available to the government,” it added. The DND also stressed that it is recalibrating its proposed projects under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, which is divided into three Horizons. Horizon 3 is slated from 2023
to 2028; Horizon 1 started in 2013 to 2018 while Horizon 2 is from 2018 to 2022.
Luna Facebook page said. This achievement demonstrates the growing capability and readiness of the Navy’s crews and platforms as a team for ASW operations. “Both the JRCFs (Jose Rizal Class Frigates) and the PN Wildcats were products of the 1st Horizon Projects under the Revised AFP Modernization Program, which were delivered and commissioned into service in 2020/2021 and 2019, respectively. The JRCFs were built by Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea, while the PN Wildcats were built by Leonardo Helicopter Limited UK (LHUK),” the post further said. The PN’s Wildcat aircrew is still undergoing the contracted incountry training with LHUK, while
the JRCFs are being used in the various operational areas of the country. The AW-159s, of which the PN has two, were acquired to increase the ASW capabilities of the JRCFs. “The PN through the Naval Air Wing and Offshore Combat Force are taking steps to complete the integration of these game-changer assets in order to be deployed together in securing our maritime domain,” the BRP Antonio Luna said. These initiatives are deemed a great contribution to fulfilling the Navy’s vision of becoming a modern, multicapable naval force responsive to our maritime nation’s defense and development. Continued on A2
Anti-submarine warfare focus
AN example of the Philippine initiative to develop its anti-submarine capabilities is highlighted by the April 27 deck landing of one of its AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) AW1-59 Wildcat anti-submarine helicopter aboard the missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151). The ship was under way off Corregidor Island at the time. “On the morning of 27 April 2023, the Philippine Navy achieved another significant milestone in its development of anti-submarine warfare capability as the PN AW159 Mk220 Wildcat helicopter, with tail number NH-441, successfully conducted its first deck landing aboard BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), an ASW (anti-submarine warfare) guided missile frigate, while underway at vicinity 30 nautical miles southwest of Corregidor Island,” a post on the BRP Antonio
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 56.2190 n JAPAN 0.4050 n UK 70.4312 n HK 7.1804 n CHINA 7.9193 n SINGAPORE 41.7302 n AUSTRALIA 36.9415 n EU 60.5029 n KOREA 0.0428 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.9914 Source: BSP (June 2, 2023)
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