Philippine Navy eyes French frigates

Amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the government is looking at French frigates for the Philippine Navy’s use.Naval officials were given a tour yesterday of the French Navy’s surveillance frigate Prairial – a 93.5-meter ship with both military and civilian characteristics, making it ideal for multiple purposes including disaster relief and other humanitarian missions, operations against piracy and international drug trafficking, and territorial patrol.

The Prairial is one of two French warships deployed in the Pacific – one in Tahiti and the other in New Caledonia.Prairial Commander Frederic Daumas said at a reception on the ship last night that the frigate, with 93 crewmembers, has performed well in various weather conditions including hurricanes since being commissioned in May 1992, and would last many more years.The Prairial is armed with 20 mm and 100 mm guns and Exocet surface-to-air missiles, and carries a transport craft, three boats and one Alouette III helicopter.

An information sheet on the frigate states: “Their main duty is to patrol overseas maritime zones over which France implements its sovereignty. In peace time, they enforce navigational police, control fishery and protect trade traffic.”Daumas said his crew would conduct joint exercises with the Philippine Navy tomorrow in Manila Bay before the frigate leaves for Hong Kong.The Prairial, which arrived Monday from Guam for its seventh port call in Manila, is on the fourth month of a seven-month deployment. It will also visit China, Japan and South Korea before returning to Tahiti.

Several months ago, the Philippine government considered acquiring coast guard patrol boats from France, but the plan did not push through.


http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/05/01/1317952/navy-eyes-french-frigates

U.S.-Philippines Pact Could Boost Arms Sales

A new 10-year security pact between the United States and the Philippines could lead to modest increases in U.S. weapons sales in coming years, especially for maritime surveillance equipment, analysts said on Sunday.The agreement, to be signed on Monday, establishes a framework for an increased U.S. military presence in the Philippines and is part of a "rebalancing" of U.S. resources toward the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region.

The deal comes 23 years after the Philippine Senate voted to evict the U.S. military from bases there, ending 94 years of American military presence in the Asian nation.Virginia-based defense analyst Loren Thompson noted that the deal came as China increasingly encroaches on maritime areas claimed by Manila in the South China Sea, even as a long-running Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines is abating.
"What Manila needs most in the way of military technology is weapons that can help enforce its claim to areas in the South China Sea," Thompson said.

That could include P-8A maritime patrol aircraft built by Boeing Co, which have already been sold to India, conventional munitions such as the Standard Missile-3 built by Raytheon Co and small warships built by Lockheed Martin Corp or Australia's Austal, he said.A renewal of counter-insurgency operations would probably move helicopters up the list of acquisition priorities, particularly UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters built by Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp.U.S. industry executives said they were keeping a close eye on the situation in the Philippines, but arms sales ultimately would be negotiated between the two governments.

"This is a new market," said one industry executive who was not authorized to speak publicly. "Chinese ambitions are making many countries look for support from the United States - even ones that have been out of the U.S. sphere for some time, such as the Philippines and Vietnam."Byron Callan, an analyst with Capital Alpha Partners, cautioned that any U.S. arms sales would be limited in scope, given the small size of the Philippines' defense budget, which totaled just $2.2 billion in 2013, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies."You could assume that 25 percent or so of that amount is for investment," Callan said. "And that spending power is not going to move the needle for U.S. defense primes."

Jim McAleese, a Virginia-based defense consultant, said the agreement's initial focus was on ship porting and military rotations, but arms sales could follow later.He said purchases of large weapons systems like Boeing's P-8A, which sells for about $275 million, would likely have to be funded by U.S. foreign military aid.


http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/USPhilippines-Pact-Could-Boost-Arms-Sales-2014-04-27/

U.S. and Philippines Agree to a 10-Year Pact on the Use of Military Bases

Signing Of The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement

Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images

Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, left, and U.S. Ambassador to the Philipinnes Philip Goldberg shake hands after signing the enhanced defense cooperation agreement in Manila on April 28, 2014.

The United States has reached a 10-year agreement with the Philippines that will give American warships, planes and troops greater access to bases in the archipelago, American officials said Sunday.

The deal, which will be the centerpiece of President Obama’s visit to the Philippines on Monday, returns the United States to a visible presence in the country for the first time since the American military gave up its sprawling naval and air bases, including one at Subic Bay, in 1992.The accord will also give the United States more flexibility to project its military assets in a region that has become increasingly tense, with China and its neighbors, including the Philippines, squabbling over territorial claims in the East and South China Seas.

Still, administration officials said the deal was not intended to contain China.President Obama, with Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia, answered questions from youth leaders at the Malaysia Global Innovation and Creativity Center in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.Listening Post: In Malaysia, Obama Works to Mend Troubled TiesAPRIL 27, 2014
President Obama at a state dinner in Malaysia, one of four stops on his Asia tour, with King Abdul Halim and Queen Haminah.News Analysis: On a Trip That Avoids Beijing, Obama Keeps His Eye on ChinaAPRIL 26, 2014. “We’re not doing this because of China,” said Evan Medeiros, senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council. “We’re doing this because we have a longstanding alliance partner.”

The American military presence in the Philippines was a frequent source of tension between the countries, who are treaty allies. But the rapid response of American ships and planes after Typhoon Haiyan, amid a more chaotic Philippine response, has increased popular support for allowing the United States military to have more access.

Philippines Navy to Build Own Radars

The Philippine Navy is now planning to construct its own radar sets in a bid to fully secure the country's vast airspace from intruders with the assistance of the Naval Research and Development Center (NRDC).This is under the NRDC's Project "Itaas" (Filipino for high ground), PN spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said.

This project is aimed at creating quality radar sets for all fleet units.He added that Project "Itaas" is one of the five priority projects of the NRDC.The other four programs include sonar equipment creation capability under Project "Ilalim" (literally meaning underwater), platforms under Project "Kuyog" (group) and the way ahead Project of NRDC, the satellite project under Project "Tuktuk" (surveillance) and Project "Putok" (explosives) for creation of modern munitions.

PN flag-officer-in-charge Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano said that these projects are primarily designed to support the Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy which focuses mainly on the enhancement of maritime situational awareness and maritime operations.These projects, when successfully pursued and executed through the partnership from the triad members, will mark a distinctive level of significance to the ideal of raising the PN’s level of research and development through the absorption of new technologies.

"This will pave the way to prevent the country from being technologically outwitted by any adversary," Alano concluded.

Philippines, Japan Navy Hold Staff to Staff Talks

In response to the invitation of Admiral Katsotoshi Kawano, Chief of Staff of Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), the Philippine Navy sent a delegation to Tokyo, Japan for the 3rd PN–JMSDF Staff to Staff Talks from 8th to 11th of April 2014.

During the talks, topics on Security Environment, Defense Policy and Build-Up Defense Program, Strategy and Activities and Defense Exchange Program were discussed by the participants.
The participants also tackled the lessons learned during the Disaster Relief and Rescue Operations following typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda onslaught.

PN–JMSDF Staff to Staff Talks is conducted as a way of strengthening bilateral relations and discussing matters that will increase the degree of cooperation, promote mutual understanding, trust and contribute to stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

In October 2012, the PN hosted the 2nd PN–JMSDF Staff to Staff Talks in Manila.
The talk focused on the terms of the Defense Cooperation and Exchanges (DCE) between the Department of National Defense (DND) of the Philippines and the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Japan as signed by DND Secretary Voltaire T Gazmin and MOD Minister Satoshi Morimoto on July 02, 2012.

Reporters get 'Welcome to China' text on Second Thomas Shoal

Text message sent to reporters

A few days earlier we had reported:

http://www.asiandefencenews.com/2014/04/philippine-sailors-gloat-after-china.html

The Philippines has adopted tougher measures to assert its sovereignty claim over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, known as Ayungin Shoal to the Philippines and Renai Reef to China. Reporters visiting the shoal were greeted however by the Chinese-language text message "Welcome to China" sent to their phones by a Chinese telecom operator.

Manila has deployed a detachment of marines to a beached World War II-era tank-landing ship which serves as a military outpost on the reef in the Spratly islands, some 194 kilometers west of the Philippines' western province of Palawan, and has taken the territorial dispute to the International Court for arbitration, a move which Beijing has strongly condemned.

When journalists sailed to the reef aboard Philippine fishing boats, they all received the "Welcome to China" text. China Mobile, one of the "big three" telecom operators in China, confirmed that the messages were sent to several smartphones belonging to Philippine nationals who connected to its network from the islet on March 29. Their phones were registered to a Philippine telecom operator and dozens of calls were made and messages sent from the shoal. The operator has been investigating these calls, reports People's Daily.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20140405000139&cid=1101

Philippine sailors gloat after China fails to block Sierra Madre supply run

The Sierra Madre

Restocking supplies while Chinese Coast Guard Ship watches

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20140401000062&cid=1101&MainCatID=0

After successfully providing supplies to its marines on board the Sierra Madre, a World War II-era tank landing ship beached near the Second Thomas Shoal (Ren'ai Reef or Ayungin Shoal), one of the disputed Spratly Islands, sailors of the Philippine Navy gave the victory sign to Chinese coast guard vessels, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.

When the Philippine fishing boat carrying foods and fresh troops for marines on board the Sierra Madre, reporters from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and other international media outlets were invited on board another vessel to cover the event. An AFP report said four Chinese coast guard vessels were ordered to intercept the approaching Philippine fishing boat on Mar. 29. Previously, on Mar. 9, two Philippine supply vessels had been driven away by the Chinese vessels surrounding the disputed waters.

The Chinese government has said that the Sierra Madre was grounded intentionally by the Philippine government near the disputed reef in 1999 to solidify its claim of sovereignty over the Second Thomas Shoal. Reuters reported that about eight marines had been stationed aboard the beached ship for three months in harsh conditions. Due to the Chinese blockade, the Philippine government had to mobilize aircraft to drop supplies to the marines on board the Sierra Madre.

"If we didn't change direction, if we didn't change course, then we would have collided with them," said Ferdinand Gato, captain of the Philippine fishing boat, after his boat had anchored on the Second Thomas Shoal to supply the isolated marines. Reuters said that the Philippine vessel was spotted by the Chinese coast guard vessel about an hour away from the Second Thomas Shoal. A warning message was then sent to the Philippine boat by the Chinese.

"We order you to stop immediately, stop all illegal activities and leave," said the radio message in English from the Chinese vessel, despite which Gato continued his mission. At the same time, Philippine troops wearing civilian clothing, along with journalists, then flashed the victory sign — also known as the peace sign — at the Chinese coast guard according to Reuters. Gato did not stop or reverse, but picked up speed and eventually maneuvered away from the Chinese after a two hours chase.

The Spratlys, the largest group of islands in the resource-rich South China Sea, is also the archipelago with the greatest number of claimants. China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei claim the islands in whole or in part.

Philippines DND, suppliers to sign multi-billion contracts for trainer jets, attack choppers

Finally lot of long pending defense deals for Philippines Armed forces go through. Multi Range fighter and Long Range Surveillance Radar System next on the acquisition wishlist.



The Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) will be signing on Friday contracts with suppliers for the manufacture of 12 training jet fighters worth P18.9 billion and 8 attack helicopters worth P4.8 billion.The defense materials are all intended for use by the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

South Korea’s Korean Aerospace Inc. (KAI) will be supplying FA50 jets and the Canadian Commercial Corp. will manufacture Bell 412 combat utility helicopters.President Benigno Aquino III had approved a total amount of P75 billion for the DND and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to achieve at least a “minimum credible defense” in the face of China’s aggressive incursions in the West Philippine Sea where it illegally posting Philippine territories.

In an interview, PAF spokesman Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said the acquisition of the FA50s is a good start to enhance the present air capability of PAF.“Well, the FA50s will greatly enhance our air defense capability. This would signal the start of our territorial defense initiatives so that brings us closer to what we want to attain, what we plan to achieve which is the minimum credible defense. Definitely, this is a positive start towards that end,” he said.

But Okol said the acquisition of the FA50s does not stop there because the aircrafts are just training fighter jets.“Eventually we will be acquiring multirole fighter (MRF) jets when the time comes, and that is another level of territorial defense,” Okol said.

With the FA50s, the DND has yet to decide which Long Range Surveillance Radar System it will buy, whether the United States-made TPS-77 or the Israel-made ELM 2288.PAF is planning to acquire 3 radar units worth about P3 billion for the country’s air defense and to also fit with the FA50s.“The radars provide situational awareness so they look far beyond the horizon to see if somebody is infringing on our territorial sovereignty. The maritime patrol aircraft, the long range patrol aircraft are the ones looking into our maritime domain awareness,” Okol said.The DND is also eyeing the purchase of 4 anti-submarine helicopters worth P5.4 billion for its BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, two 47-year-old decommissioned Hamilton-class cutters the Philippine Navy acquired from the US Coast Guard.

The helicopters, AW 159 “Wildcat”, are manufactured by Augusta Westland.

PH Eyeing 3rd Hamilton Cutter from US?

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/83361/uss-michigan-us-guided-missile-sub-to-dock-on-tuesday-in-subic

A defense source said the government was reportedly negotiating for a third Hamilton-class from the US Coast Guard under the US Foreign Military Sale (FMS), similar to the terms that covered its earlier acquisition of the first two Hamilton cutters that were renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz.The US Coast Guard decommissioned the high-endurance ship a long time ago but placed it on its excess defense materials for interested countries.

Up to three C-130s are also expected to be acquired by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to boost its lift transport capability, the source added. PAF  currently only has three operational C-130s.USS Michigan, US guided-missile sub, to dock on Tuesday in Subic

 The USS Michigan (SSGN 727), an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine, will arrive in Subic Bay on Tuesday. Its arrival coincides with the resumption of the sixth round of talks between the negotiating panels of Manila and Washington for increased rotational presence of American forces in the country.
In a statement, the US embassy in Manila said the warship’s visit is “for a routine port call that highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.”  “This visit will allow the ship to replenish supplies as well as give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation.  While in Subic the sailors of the USS Michigan will visit a school that helps persons with disabilities, and visit the Olongapo City Museum to learn more about Filipino culture and history,” the embassy statement said.

The USS Michigan is part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and is homeported in Puget Sound, Washington.  It is commanded by Capt. Erik A. Burian and crewed by approximately 150 sailors.The submarine was commissioned on September 11, 1982 and is the third United States Navy vessel to bear the name of the state. In 2003, the Michigan entered the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington for conversion from a Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine into a Guided Missile Submarine.

In June 2007, the new USS Michigan SSGN-727 was returned to service as one of only four SSGN's in the submarine fleet.

Philippine Plans to Procure 8 Combat Utility Helicopters and 2 ASW Helicopters

The Department of National Defense on Monday said it has allocated P5.4 billion for the acquisition of two brand-new anti-submarine warfare helicopters for the Philippine Navy."The ASW helicopters is one of the projects included in the list of the AFP Modernization Program. The project is for implementation," DND undersecretary for finance, modernization, installations, and munitions Fernando Manalo said in a message to the PNA.

Manalo said the acquisition process is expected to be completed by this year.The Philippine Navy earlier announced it is considering the AW-159 "Wildcat" made by Augusta-Westland.The choppers will be assigned to the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz.The AW-159 is an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx military helicopter.The AW-159, which has been ordered for the British army and navy, will serve in battlefield utility, search and rescue and anti-surface warfare roles.

It has a crew of two, has a maximum speed of 291 kilometers per hour, a range of 777 km, ferry range of 963 km and an endurance of one and a-half hours, (four hours and 30 minutes if fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks).The AW-159 is fitted with forward firing CRV7 rockets and machineguns, pintle-mounted machinegun, Sea Skua missiles and Sting Ray torpedoes and depth charges.

The acquisition process for the AW-159 is expected to commence in earnest once the Navy completes an acquisition deal for five AW-109s from Augusta-Westland by the third quarter of this year.

Philippines says US defence agreement close, amid China row

The Philippines said yesterday a deal to allow a greater US military presence on its territory could be signed next month, in a timely defence boost amid a worsening territorial row with China.There was optimism the pact could be secured ahead of US President Barack Obama’s April visit to Manila after the two sides agreed on a contentious issue that would see US forces build “structures” on their hosts military bases, Filipino officials said.

“Discussions in the sixth round were substantive and productive, and significant progress was made,” Philippine Defence Undersecretary Pio Batino told reporters in Manila following the latest round of talks in Washington last week.Fellow negotiators said: “If the negotiations are successfully concluded and that happens before the arrival of President Obama, then we will be happy of course”.However, the officials declined to set an April deadline, citing the need to ensure the language was in line with Philippine laws and yielded the maximum benefits for the hosts.



Washington has said Obama will visit the Philippines in April as part of a four-nation tour of East Asia.
The Philippine government sees hosting more US forces as an important part of its strategy to counter an increasingly assertive China in an escalating dispute over rival claims to the South China Sea.With its military capabilities dwarfed by China’s the Philippines has been looking for more diplomatic and military support from the US, its former colonial ruler and longtime ally.

A decades-long dispute over rival claims to parts of the South China Sea has sharply worsened over the past two years, with the Philippines accusing China of bullying and violating international laws.Among the recent flare-ups, Manila accused the Chinese coastguard of firing a water cannon on January 27 at two Filipino fishing boats near a shoal that is within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines then said Chinese ships blocked Filipino vessels from bringing food to Filipino marines on another shoal within its territory.

Both outcrops lie many hundreds of kilometres away from the nearest Chinese landmass, but China claims most of the sea, even waters approaching the coasts of its neighbours.

American forces were forced to pull out of major military bases in the Philippines in 1992, ending nearly a century of military presence, amid a rental dispute and rising anti-American sentiment.

However since 2002 several hundred Special Forces troops on short term deployments have training Filipino counterparts who are fighting militants in the south.

Strategic Sealift Vessel of the Philippine Navy Awarded to PT PAL

The Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Navy (PN) has selected Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL (Persero) to build 2 Landing Platform Docks (also known as the Strategic Sealift Vessels or SSV). PT PAL's executives confirmed that they already received the Notice of Award as of 1st week of January.

A contract was already signed between PT PAL and the DND/PN as of the end of January 2014, thus finalizing the start of construction of the 2 ships for the PN. It is expected that the first ship will be delivered to the PN within 2 years, or by around February 2016, with the second ship delivered by around February 2017. 

C-295 Only Eligible Bid for PAF's Medium Lift Fixed Wing Aircraft Acquisition Program

A C-295 in MPA form used by the Chilean Navy. With the C-295 choice of the PAF, the C-295 bid for the LRMPA project

A C-295 transport aircraft delivered to the Mexican Air Force.

Airbus Military's C-295 transport aircraft, as used by the Spanish Air Force.

The CN-235 offered by PT DI was disqualified for failing to meet payload and space requirements.

The bid submission and opening for the Philippine Air Force's requirement for 3 Medium Lift Fixed Wing Aircraft has seen Airbus Military (EADS-CASA) and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) joining the tender. They are offering the C-295 and the CN-235, respectively. Noted was the absence of another expected bidder, Alenia Aermacchi with its C-27J Spartan aircraft. It appears that Airbus Military's C-295 is the lowest eligible bid, with a quote of Php 5.289 billion, or a little lower than the Php 5.3 billion budget allocated by the PAF and DND.

It is expected that the post qualification process will start soon, and may involve DND and PAF personnel to check EADS-CASA-Airbus Military's facilities and C-295 production in Spain, where the C-295 is produced. No word though if PT DI will be involved in any way as they are also a licensed assembler of the C-295 for the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI). If everything goes as planned, it is expected that the planes will be available to the PAF after 26 months after opening of letter of credit, which will be in 2016. The PAF would be luckier if Airbus Military can deliver earlier as their production of the C-295 is still in full blast.

With the choice of the C-295, it would be interesting to see next what would be the PAF's choice on the future Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft (LRMPA) acquisition project, wherein the a modified C-295 is said to be one of the contenders as well. Although it was confirmed by the DND and PAF sources that the LRMPA project might be US-sourced, it is still possible for the C-295 to steal the show as everything is not yet final on that project.

Philippines to Bolster Surveillance with new Maritime Air Patrols, Radar Stations

The Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) plans to acquire two long-range patrol aircraft at an investment of US$135 million, (P5.98 billion). Support facilities for these aircraft will be established at the Lipa, Palawan and Zamboanga airfields located at the western and southern perimeters of the Sulu Sea.

Philippine Navy Gets AW109 Power Naval Helicopters

The Philippine Navy (PN) commissions its first 3 AgustaWestland AW109 Power multipurpose naval helicopters as part of the AFP 78th Anniversary and Thanksgiving celebrations at AFP's headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

On March 2010, the Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND) released an invitation to bid for the procurement of 2 multipurpose helicopters including Intergrated Logistics Support (ILS) and air and ground crew training with an Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) amounting to Php 850.91 million. Award should have been to PZL Swidnik of Poland for a navalized W-3 Sokol variant, but this was deferred after reports of collusion between PZL Swidnik and a joint group from the Philippine Air Force and Navy was made public.

Another attempt was made in 2012 now under the Naval Helicopter Acquisition Program, and the PN planned to embark these helicopters on the Gregorio del Pilar-class frigates. The DND decided to negotiate with AgustaWestland for navalized AW109 Power helicopters, and was found to be the single calculated and responsive proponent. With the help of the Italian Ministry of Defense upon their review, the notice of award was provided to AgustaWestland S.p.A. and a contract was signed on December 20, 2012 for 3 helicopters worth Php 1,337,176,584.00 (US$32.544 million), to be financed by the AFP Modernization Program with assistance from the Department of Energy. An option for 2 more is also included in the contract, which was realized later on for a total budget for the 5 helicopters plus ILS for probably less than Php 2.2 billion. Expected delivery is around early 2014.

The first batch of avionics and maintenance crew were sent to Sesto Calende, Italy for training on May 2013, while the 1st batch of pilots for training were sent to Italy on June 2013 while the last batch were sent on November 2013. The training for different crews vary between 2 to 4 months which will enable them to maintain and operate the helicopters with minimal or no help from AgustaWestland specialists.