Philippine Air Force Acquired a total of 57 Engineering Equipment

The Philippine Air Force conducted a Blessing Ceremony of PAF Aviation Engineering Equipment (PAFAEE) in Basa Air Base, Pampanga on December 2, 2020 with the Commanding General, PAF LTGEN ALLEN T PAREDES PAF as the Guest of Honor.

According to the  PAF Aviation Engineering Equipment, A total of 57 equipment composed of nine (9) trucks; four (4) hydrostatic bulldozers; one (1) compact backhoe loader; six (6) equipment haulers; eight (8) self-loading mixers; 12 excavators; and, 17 road rollers were blessed and will be utilized for all pavement projects of the 355th Aviation Engineer Wing (AEW).

The said equipment is part of the PAFAEE acquisition projects. Upon the completion of the acquisition of projects, PAFAEE is expected to close the 355th AEW's identified capability gaps in all stages of construction which covers surveying, design, area preparation, construction proper, rehabilitation and demolition of structures, and mission essential support equipment in order to sustainably perform the three (3) core functions which include the general engineering, engineering service during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response and providing combat aviation engineering support in times of conflict.

All of these equipment including the previous acquisition projects of the PAFAEE will be distributed and permanently deployed to the different PAF major installations once the reorganization is conceived.

The reorganization highlights the placing of eight (8) PAF Civil Engineer Squadrons all over the country under the administrative control of 355th AEW.

Meanwhile, the Wing Commander of 355th Aviation Engineer Wing, BGEN GEORGE A BLANCO PAF, selected HPAF Staff, and other senior Officers were also present in said activity.

Rest assured that the PAF will continuously provide general engineering services and contribute to the National Development programs of the Government.

Source:

https://www.paf.mil.ph/news-articles/philippine-air-force-conducts-blessing-ceremony-paf-aviation-engineering-equipment?fbclid=IwAR03lU0A6sxVAtalZuftZ57UVbhTFGSqwZhyJo4Bk7YgbDMOUxbfJMDvNvU

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Armed Forces Of The Philippines Successfully Completed Its Rehearsals For The Joint Interoperability Exercises

On Sunday of November 29 at Zambales in San Antonio. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conduct its rehearsals for the Joint Interoperability Exercises (JIOE)  and it was successfully completed this December 1. 

The exercises are part of the 4th edition of the AFP Joint Exercise (AJEX) DAGIT-PA, which addresses capability development in maritime security and amphibious operations. 

The events aim to conduct joint operations integrating marine, conventional air and land forces in joint operational environments.

The scenarios call upon participating forces to carry out joint fire with close air support and air attack, joint land and maritime movements and manoeuvres, joint force protection and joint sustainment.

Among completed exercises were Target Acquisition of HERMES 450 from Basa Air Base to San Antonio, Zambales; Simulated Naval Surface Fire Support; Helideck Operations; Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; Recovery of AW109 aircraft; Over the Beach Operations; Hydro Reconnaissance; Underwater Mine Clearing; Obstacle Breaching; Simulated Air Strike; Amphibious Assault Vehicles Launch; Ship to Objective Maneuvers; and Ship to Shore Maneuver.

The amphibious landing and defense exercises of the island are currently taking place in San Antonio, Zambales today, December.

Source:

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123628

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Scorpene Manufacturer Set To Open Its Office In The Philippines

The opening of a representation office of the french company well known in building naval defense, is now ready to be operated in the Philippines.

In a press release, the company said the opening means the first step in a long-term commitment to cooperation and partnership in developing naval capabilities in the country.

Naval Group, a naval defense shipbuilder based in France, is a renowned in naval systems supplier and Integrator with a history of more than 400 years in the defense sector.

Partnering with more than 50 navies around the world, Naval Group aims to bring to the Philippines its breadth of experience and unrivaled technical expertise in ships and submarines with combat systems and all critical equipment and services necessary to engage naval power in a theatre of operations.

According to  Alain Guillou, Naval Group Senior Executive Vice President Development,

“We are the only provider with previous experience in helping a country develop a submarine force from scratch and we stand ready to assist the Philippines Navy by providing the submarines but also setting up the training, facilities and supply chain required to operate a fully operational submarine fleet.” 

The company’s extensive portfolio opens many opportunities to address the entire range of Filipino naval needs from the development of the naval forces to the constitution of a world-class submarine force.

Naval Group has demonstrated in many countries such as Malaysia, India, and Australia its capability to support military capabilities and economic growth of its partners. The opening of the representative office enables them to identify synergies and partners to support the needs of the Philippine Navy.

According to Anne Clausard, Country Head of Naval Group.

“The creation of the submarine force is a fantastic opportunity for us to develop long term partnerships with the local industry where there will be transferring of knowledge and technology that will also create hundreds of jobs for the program and beyond.” 

The creation of the submarine force is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippine modernization program aiming to protect the nation's maritime sovereignty and interests. 

Source:

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123168?fbclid=IwAR1u6QgfeWOyGlocMUrH6qMD00ykcw8km6T7fdLArFV22pcv50ISt2nNBaA

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Scaneagle Aerial Drones Has Acquired by The Philippine Navy

The capability of the Philippine Navy to carry out various missions at sea will be greatly enhanced by the United States-provided advanced unmanned fixed-wing air system.

It is the first fixed UAS operated by the Philippine Navy.

The ScanEagle and associated equipment, valued at US$14.79 million, was purchased as part of the Maritime Security Initiative Program of the United States.

It was requested by the Philippine Marine in 2017 and formalized in February 2019, following a series of dialogues with the Philippine Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG-Phil).

With the ScanEagle now in the PN inventory, Bacordo stated that the Navy now has an alternative to its helicopters and radar systems to broaden the coverage of its patrols.

Bacordo also stated that the ScanEagle can also be used for rapid damage evaluation in case of disasters or typhoons.

ScanEagle is as reliable as any of the existing PN electro-optical systems or even their radars or helicopter or fixed-wing surveillance.

Vice-Admiral Erick Kagaoan, Deputy Vice-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who represented Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana as guest of honour and speaker, and Rear-Admiral Loumer Bernabe, Commander of the Philippine Fleet, have graced the event.

Kimberly Kelly, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, and officials from the U.S. Embassy presented the UAS ScanEagle to the Philippine Navy, which will be used by the squadron recently activated under the Naval Wing of the Philippine Fleet, Maritime Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron (MUARS-71).

Lorenzana's message, read by Kagaoan, said “these new assets will complement the same kind being operated by the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing at the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, which is very close to the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea that needs our consistent attention.”

The ScanEagle UAS is manufactured by Insitu Inc., a subsidiary of Boeing.

It is a small, long-term unmanned aerial vehicle that can be primarily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. , as it provides near real-time coverage and can be launched from land and onboard major Philippine Navy vessels.

Source:

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122915?fbclid=IwAR0y5ljMjSlCraJcpY-KoDQZC39Ypxw0Qgb5qciw4kICC3_JdDhGANn3Kh0

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AFP Is Sending Medical Teams To Davao

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations Major General Benedict Arevalo representing the AFP Chief of Staff General Gilbert Gapay together with National Task Force for COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., led the send-off ceremony for the 25-man medical contingent of the AFP at Villamor Airbase on November 23, 2020.

Also in attendance were Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año and Deputy Chief Implementer for Visayas Retired Major General Melquiades Feliciano.

The contingent is composed of five teams of military doctors and nurses, and medical aides from the AFP Health Service Command, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Air Force.

These medical teams will be heading to Davao City to augment the Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 efforts and increase the health system capability of the city. This was after Davao City was classified as “Restricted LGU” due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the area with a number of 5,652 as of November 20.

Source:

https://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/8-afp-news/912-afp-sends-medical-teams-to-davao?fbclid=IwAR29EH8u9H83OLXDmmzI3mwBJSHQPu2WFJ-DfHEuLY2yJWmDwMJ3x43VfL0

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BRP Ivatan Transport National ID Registration Kits In Visayas

The Philippine Navy (PN) Heavy Landing Vessel BRP Ivatan (LC298) departed Sangley Point, Cavite City today, November 21, to transport the National Identification System (PhilSys) registration packages to the Visayas area.

LC298 skippered by Cdr. Paul Anthony Yamamoto, carries a total of 35,481 tons of cargo which include 1897 PhilSys registration kits to be distributed in eight provinces of the area such as Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Leyte.

This is in line with the logistics support extended by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) using its sea, air, and land assets to enable the distribution of PhilSys registration kits to 32 PSA provincial offices all over the country. In addition to the Navy, the Philippine Army covers delivery in Luzon, and Mindanao for the Philippine Air Force.

This mission highlights the ability of Philippine Navy, among other branches of AFP, to provide much-needed logistical support, especially during this time of pandemic when transport between islands and provinces is limited.

It further demonstrates the PNs readiness to collaborate with other government agencies toward bringing to the people the services they need.

Source:

https://navy.mil.ph/pn_web_news.php?news_id=2260

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The Philippines Is Now Equipped With A Precision Guided Weapon

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Monday, that the "intelligent munitions" given to them by the US would be of great help to their ongoing efforts to eliminate the terrorist threat in the country.

"These smart munitions with such capability and precision will go a long way in helping AFP rid the country of terrorist threats," said Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Major-General Edgard Arevalo.

While Armed Forces of the Philippines, has successfully utilized ordinary ammunition in counter-terrorism operations using legacy aircraft, including in Marawi City, AFP spokesperson said the arrival of these modern weaponry will significantly boost efforts to defeat the threat of terrorism.

We may have succeeded in counterterrorism operations, particularly in Marawi, with ordinary ammunition installed in our old aircraft. But with the advent of these missiles and munitions, we are certain that they will greatly boost our campaigns and contribute to the global effort to combat and defeat terrorists,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson, Major General.

He added that Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay, has also expressed his thanks to the US and Philippines defense departments for brokering and sealing this deal.

At a ceremony on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs received a US$18 million (approximately PHP868 million) precision-guided ammunition kit from the United States National Security Advisor, Robert O'Brien.

Some of the weapons handed over include 100 tubular optically guided TOW-2A missiles, 12 Enhanced Target Acquisition Systems (ITAS), 24 Mark-82 bombs, and associated guidance kits to convert them into intelligent bombs. 

Source:

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122629?fbclid=IwAR0frLGB-9911ntCG9VtIm9r-nGcGcoKHomfiW3jO33E_dyVBUsHozE78wA

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Philippines Set to be The First Buyer of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

India and Russia are set to export its jointly developed  BrahMos supersonic cruise missile  in the Philippines , a movement that could disrupt Beijing, Given its border deadlock with New Delhi and territorial disputes with other neighbors in the South China Sea.

BrahMos is named for two rivers -- Brahmaputra in India and Moskva in Russia. The missile is manufactured by a joint venture between India and Russia, BrahMos Aerospace, which was established in India in 1998 and is responsible for the design, development and commercialization of the missile.

"All tests of contemporary versions [of the missile] are successful," said Roman Babushkin, Russia's No. 2 diplomat in New Delhi, in a recent online briefing. Babushkin added that Russia and India are "planning to gradually increase the range of these exclusive missiles and, of course, to begin exporting to third countries, starting with the Philippines."

Asked if it had already ordered the weapons, Arsenio Andolong, a spokesman at the Philippine Department of National Defense, told Nikkei Asia that the Southeast Asian nation had inquired about the missile but that the purchase "is still under evaluation." Adding, "It is part of our modernization program to enhance our territorial defense capability."

Last December, the Philippines announced its intention to buy the BrahMos for the army and the air force to reinforce their coastal defences. Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana said the contract would be signed by the second quarter of 2020, which would consist of "two batteries", according to the Philippine national news agency.

A BrahMos missile battery includes three autonomous mobile rocket launcher. BrahMos would be the first weapons system in the Philippines with deterrence capacity, Lorenzana said.

Equipped with stealth technology and an advanced guidance system, the BrahMos can be launched from aerial, land, maritime and submarine platforms and can carry conventional warheads weighing 200 kg to 300 kg. It has a range of 290 km and is supersonic, reducing flight and contact time. Missile velocity makes it difficult to deploy targets. According to BrahMos Aerospace, it cannot be intercepted by any known weapon.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have delayed the purchase and there are reports that the agreement could now be signed early next year.

Earlier this month, New Delhi and Manila hosted an online meeting of their Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India, S. Jaishankar and Teodoro Locsin Jr., his counterpart in the Philippines. They agreed to strengthen the two countries' commitment to defence and maritime cooperation, particularly with regard to military training, capacity building, goodwill visits and equipment procurement.

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BRP SALVADOR ABCEDE (PC114) Performs naval Gun Firing

The naval ship BRP SALVADOR ABCEDE (PC114) performs naval gun firing tests on the Bohol sea waters.

Naval Task Force 50 operational control patrol craft, BRP SALVADOR ABCEDE (PC114) held its test-firing of weapons on board at vicinity seawaters of Bohol to maintain the proficiency of gun crews during the actual firing scenario for mission-ready status.

The main armament of the PC114 is a 40 mm BOFORS anti-aircraft gun and the secondary armaments are made up of.50 M2HB Browning calibre heavy machine guns and 7.62 mm M60 light machine guns.

The regular conduct of an artillery exercise ensures the operational and combat preparedness of all ship’s crew against various air and surface enemies.

The live fire exercise was conducted on November 18 in compliance with COVID-19 safety and health practices. A Notice to Mariners (NOTAM) was issued before the date of the trial fire to inform transiting vessels of the danger within the practice area.

In addition, two picket boats of the 5th PB Division were used to sweep and secure the designated firing zone against unwanted traffic intrusions. The medical team was also onboard PC114, always ready for medical intervention. BRP SALVADOR ABCEDE carried out the activity safely and successfully, without casualties of personnel and equipment.

A naval gunnery target balloon called “killer tomato” was utilized and was hit during live fire. The PC114 under the leadership of the NTF50 continued to excel in gun control beyond battle readiness to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in the central Visayas. 

Source: 

https://www.facebook.com/navforcentral

https://www.facebook.com/navforcentral/posts/3605713872887361

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Philippines will Receive $18 Million Worth of Precision-Guided Ammunition from the United States

The Philippines will receive $18 million worth of precision-guided ammunition from the United States next month, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Tuesday.

According to the Defense Secretary, 'They gave us $18 million worth of military equipment, which will arrive) next month. These are precision-guided munitions that can be dropped accurately,' he said in an interview with Defense journalists in South Harbor, Manila, when he was heading the departure of BRP Tarlac.

BRP Tarlac has been deployed to typhoon-hit Catanduanes on a relief mission.

Lorenzana hasn’t given any specific details on the ammunition.

He said he recently had a meeting with John Law, chargés d'affaires of the US Embassy in Manila, during which they discussed the Visiting Forces Agreement, US concerns over the West Philippine Sea, US foreign policy, military equipment they were offering to the Philippines, and pandemic-related assistance. 

Source:

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122410?fbclid=IwAR32Si3IOArNN0IuQCi5ZXF8DS1Py6i3MGLsLKeUgtBbzpVKrwsj3kqreHA

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PNR Presented Another Breakthrough

In the midst of a current pandemic and a series of natural disasters, the Ministry of Transport (DOTr) and Philippine National Railways (PNR) Remain focused and committed to promoting transit infrastructure solutions that will greatly benefit the Filipinos well into the future. 

Yesterday, the PNR presented another breakthrough in its game-changing Clark Phase 1 project, as part of the major North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) program, with the lifting of its first prefabricated segment, headed by Junn Magno, Director General of the PNR ,and Deputy Director General Atty. Celeste Lauta.

The Pre-cast segment or Girder, one of the main components of the rail line construction, is an engineering masterpiece designed and patterned after international railway construction guidelines.

The PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban - Malolos) project, is the 38-km. the rail line that will connect Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan. When completed, this modern mass transport system is expected to serve 300,000 passengers daily, and greatly reduce travel time from approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes.

This PNR Clark Phase 1 will integrate with PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos to Clark) and PNR Calamba, forming the NSCR mega railway, one of the biggest infrastructure projects under the massive "BUILD, BUILD, BUILD" program of the Duterte Administration. The project is a mammoth 148-km route length rail line  with 37 stations, 464 train cars, and an estimated 830,000 passenger capacity per day once fully operational.

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