Philippines to Buy 2 Brand New ASW Helicopter
DND will select one of four different types of anti-submarine helicopters, including AgustaWestland
AW-109 (photo : Pakforum)
Military to
buy 2 anti-submarine choppers
MANILA,
Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) is planning to acquire
two brand new naval helicopters with anti-submarine capabilities to enhance the
capabilities of the military.
DND
Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said the department is now awaiting the issuance
of an acquisition defense memorandum (ADM), which would start the procurement
and would signal the project’s implementation.
Manalo said
the ADM, which is a key component in the procurement process, would be issued
by DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
“(This
acquisition is) part of our modernization program,” Manalo said, adding that
each helicopter costs P2.5 billion.
The two
helicopters are expected to be placed on the two Maestrale-class missile-firing
warships to be acquired from Italy. There is no information yet as to where the
helicopters would be procured.
Manalo said
the implementation of the project hinges on the enactment of a measure seeking
to revive the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program.
“If it (law)
gets approved, the P75 billion (funding) for the first five years would be part
of it,” the defense official said.
The old AFP
Modernization Act, which took effect on February 23, 1995, has given the
military the opportunity to modernize in 15 years with a total fund of P331
billion.
The
implementation of the law, however, has been stalled due to lack of funds. The
law lapsed in 2010 without achieving its purpose of modernizing the military.
Last
September, the legislature ratified a bill seeking to revive the military’s
modernization program and to allot P75 billion for the first five years of its
implementation.
The new
modernization bill only needs the signature of President Aquino before it can
be enacted into law.
Among the
items that the DND wants to acquire once the bill is signed into law are
communication equipment, lead-in fighter trainer jets, closed air support
aircraft, long range patrol aircraft, radar systems and engineering equipment.
The DND is
also resorting to government-to-government transactions to fast-track the
procurement of key military equipment.
The Aquino
administration has promised to equip the military to enable it to perform its
mission.
The Army
would be given new assault rifles, armor assets, tanks, armored personnel
carriers, force protection equipment like helmets, and bulletproof vests,
night-fighting equipment and radios.
On the other
hand, the government would buy surface attack aircraft, air defense radars,
long-range patrol aircraft and closed air support aircraft for the Air Force.
For the
Navy, the government seeks to acquire strategic sea-lift vessels with
amphibious vessels, off-shore patrol vessels, naval helicopters, coast watch
stations and weather-heavy endurance cutters.
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