Page 18 - ADT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 Online Magazine

signed this year or whether there will be further
changes of the plan.

After winning a contract worth about US$141
million for three batteries of Surface to Air
Missile (SAM) systems for the PAF in 2018, [ PROCUREMENT ]
Israel’s Rafael corporation reportedly has
delivered one SPYDER-ER SAM battery to the
Philippines some time last year. If confirmed,
this will mark the service’s first operational
ground-based missile air defence system. With
a maximum range of 40 km, the systems will
provide a short to medium range anti-aircraft
capability for the PAF.

In what is known as one of the first Japan’s
major defense exports, the PAF will also receive
three J/FPS-3 fixed long-range surveillance
light attack aircraft to bring the total number of A-29B in the PAF and one J/TPS-P14 mobile air surveillance
service to 24 in 2024. If there’s no further change to this plan, a Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
contract for the first batch of twelve Brazil’s Embraer A-29B Super radars manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric. In
Tucano should be signed this year with another batch consisting a contract worth around US$103.5 million that
of eighteen aircraft to be signed on a later date. was signed in 2020, the Japanese company will
deliver and build the installations for the fixed
After losing a C-130H in a fatal accident in July last year, the PAF is radars starting from this year.
left with only two remaining Hercules heavy lift aircraft aside from
two C-130T which are specially modified for maritime patrol duties.
In response to this the Philippine House of Representatives has Philippine Coast Guard
approved additional funding for the PAF to acquire five new C-130J While not a part of the Armed Forces of the
Super Hercules military transport aircraft. As much as PHP5.5 billion Philippines in peacetime, the PCG is also in
(about US$107.1 million) has been allocated for the initial payment the process of modernizing its naval and aerial
of these aircraft in which a contract is expected to be signed this assets. After receiving donations from Japan
year. The PAF is also expecting the first delivery of three additional in the form of numerous ships and fast boats
EADS CASA C-295 medium transport aircraft this month. These between 2016-2018, the PCG is currently
aircraft will add the number of C-295 operated by the service to awaiting delivery of two 97-meters Teresa
seven - one of which is a VVIP/Presidential transport version. Magbanua-class Multi-Role Response Vessels
(MRRVs) that were built by Japan’s Mitsubishi
Moving forward to helicopters, the first two of six Turkey’s TAI Heavy Industries (MHI). Launched in July and
T129 ATAK all-weather attack helicopters that were ordered in November 2021 respectively, both ships will
2018 were finally delivered to the Philippines early this month. It be delivered to the Philippines around the first
has been reported that the initial planned delivery in 2020 was quarter of 2022.
delayed due to the difficulties in obtaining export license for the
engines from the US government. With the arrival of these two Aside from Japan, a French shipbuilder com-
attack helicopters, the next batches are expected to be delivered pany, OCEA, is also involved in a project to
in 2023 and 2024. These new rotorcraft will join two AH-1S Cobra provide 40 35-meter fast patrol crafts for the
attack helicopters which were donated from Jordan and entered PCG. Although no contract has been awarded
PAF’s active duty in 2019. yet, the company is confident that it will be
selected to build half of these 40 crafts in its
To increase the service’s fleet of fifteen Sikorsky S-70i medium lift/ Philippine shipyard which is scheduled to begin
utility helicopters, the Philippine government has recently approved production in 2023.
a PHP32 billion (about US$623.47 million) funds for 32 additional
helicopters of this type. Manufactured in Poland by Sikorsky/ Moving on to aircraft, the Philippine government
Lockheed Martin subsidiary PZL Mielec, a contract for these addi- has allocated PHP1.6 billion (about US$31.3 mil-
tional helicopters is expected to be signed soon. lion) for an unspecified number of aircraft for
the PCG. It’s currently unknown whether this
Despite the threat of sanction from the United States, it appears is meant for the procurement of the Czech’s
that the Philippine government will still pursue a contract for 16 Mil Let L-410NG Turbolet aircraft, or German/
Mi-17 heavy lift helicopters from Russia. While it has been reported Indian Dornier/HAL Do 228NG which has been
last month that the down payment for these rotorcraft “will be recently offered by the Indian government for
released soon”, it remains to be seen whether a contract will be the PCG.

18 | January/February 2022 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT