MRV design by PT PAL Indonesia --Photo from PT PAL
MANILA, Philippines-- DND declared on Thursday that Indonesia company PT PAL as winner of a P4-billion contract to build two multi-role vessels for the Philippine Navy.
The ship is designed to transport a battalion or 500 soldiers as well as logistics. will be equipped with a helipad and medical facility for disaster response.
"PT PAL Indonesia (Persero) was the “lone eligible bidder” with a bid price offer of P3,863,999,520". According to BAC chairman Efren Fernandez, the Assistant Secretary for Personnel.
Joint venture Astartez Defense and Rescue Solution Co. and Coastal Industries PTE. LTD.; PROPMECH Corporation; Daewoo International Corp. (Daesun – Republic of Korea); Larsen and Toubro (India); Stone of David Tactical Equipment Co.; STX Off-Shore Shipbuilding Co. (Korea); Keppel Philippines Marine, Inc.; and PT Citra Shipyard are the firms who bought bid documents.
The bidders except for STX and Citra, were present during the opening of bid documents but did not submit their bid envelop, giving only PT PAL and Daesun the chance to vie for the bidding.
The BAC did not say why the other bidders withdrew.
Artist's rendition of FA-50 together with S211's in Philippine Air Force-- Photo from filipina40's library in Photobucket.com
MANILA, Philippines--Philippine Air force expects to receive the first two of the 12 FA-50 lead-in trainer jets from South Korea before the end of next year.
The FA-50s would serve as trainer and fighter aircraft for the Air Force, which is a major beneficiary under the P75-billion Armed Forces modernization program.
“This [deal] is already approved in principle, and at this point, we’re now going into the detailed training of our team with the Korean team,” said Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino Dela Cruz.
Filipino Pilots on-board S211 Jet Trainer
“Our target date is…it should have at least two initially by the end of the fourth quarter of 2014, and then the rest would be the following six months thereafter,” He added.
The Air Force retired its F-5 jet fighters in 2005 but failed to acquire replacements due to financial crisis that hit South East Asia.
According to Dela Cruz, after the first delivery, the remaining jets should be delivered every two months.
“Hopefully, we have it all delivered before the middle of 2016, if everything goes right,” he said.
Aside from the fighter jets, DND is in the market for (3) Multi-Purpose Attack Craft, (2) brand new missile firing frigates, (3) multi-role vessels (MRV), long- range aircraft, radars, coast watch stations, anti-submarine helicopters and other modern military assets.
Photo for illustration purpose only, not the actual simulator--Photo from itri.tsu.edu.com
MANILA Philippines-- DND will be opening the bid for the acquisition of three units of Full Motion Flight Simulator and its Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Package.
Bid opening shall be on September 19, 2013 10:00 am at DND-BAC conference room, right wing basement, DND building, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
AFP/DND will hold pre-bid conference which will be opened to interested parties on September 5, 2013 10:00 am at the same location. A complete set of documents will be made available to interested bidders upon payment of a non refundable sum of Fifty Thousand pesos (P50,000.00).
The project will cost DND the sum of more than Two Hundred Forty Million Pesos (246, 430,000.00) and the required delivery of the said equipments shall be 550 calendar days from the opening of the letter of credit.
The budget shall be taken from DND/AFP General Appropriations act and the AFP Modernization Trust Fund.
BRP Alcaraz with her sister ship BRP Del Pilar while docked at Alava Wharf in Subic-- Photos from AFP Modernization Insiders FB page.
MANILA, Philippines- Navy's newly acquired Hamilton Class Cutter entered dry-docking procedure for maintenance, repaint and refit. Alcaraz entered dry dock last friday August 16, 2013 on an undisclosed shipyard somewhere in Batangas where some international vessels undergo repair. Alcaraz will be painted hazed gray, a standard color scheme for PN vessels. She was also scheduled to be fitted with a new hydraulics, gaskets, piping system, and bearings.
Two 25mm Mark 38 Mod 2 "Bushmasters" auto cannon and four to six light machine guns will be fitted on-board Alcaraz for it's defense against threats.
Bow of sisters BRP Gregoryo Del Pilar (right) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (left) moored together @ Subic
"This is part of our upgrade capability . It has naval guns, but for it to perform its job we’re looking at providing it with greater capabilities," Alano said in an interview.
BRP Ramon Alcaraz is scheduled to be commissioned in October and is expected to patrol West Philippine Sea to assert Philippines right to the disputed resource rich islands.
BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16) and BRP Gregoryo Del Pilar (PF15) moored @ Subic, Zambales
President Benigno Aquino III is expected to lead Alcaraz's commissioning, as he did with BRP Gregoryo Del Pilar depending on his schedule.
MANILA, Philippines - Defense officials postponed the opening of bids from August 20, 2013 to September 6, 2013. The bidding will be held at DND Bids and Awards Committee Basement, Right Wing, DND Bldg. Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Quezon City.
A total of seven firms purchased bid documents from the Department of National Defense, but only Radom and Rice submitted offers.
The five firms that bought bid documents but did not join the bidding were Serpenair Group Inc./Bell helicopter, ST Aerospace Engineering PTE. Ltd, Stone of David Tactical Equipment Co., Overseas Aircraft Support Inc., and Aerospace Engineering Group.
The government has allocated P1.26 billion for the purchase of the helicopters and the integrated logistics support package.
Aug. 23, 2013-- A National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) will be designed and constructed by Raytheon Company.
Raytheon will also support integration of data from various agencies into the NCWC and provide acquisition, installation and training on an automatic identification system as well as radio communications.
Raytheon Company was awarded a Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) maritime border security contract for the Philippines. Valued at up to $18 million if all options are exercised, this is Raytheon's first border security-related contract in Southeast Asia. The contract to build was awarded July 2013, and will end July 31, 2015.
Raytheon has performed similar work for DTRA under other contracts as well. The CTR Integrating Contract (CTRIC II), awarded in April 2011, is a multiple award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract, and the Philippines project is part of CTRIC II.
"The Philippines contract extends Raytheon's border security solutions portfolio to Southeast Asia and confirms that our integration solutions, program management leadership and international expertise are valuable as we expand our support of customers around the world," said David Appel, director of Surveillance, Range, and Infrastructure Solutions for Raytheon's Intelligence, Information and Services business.
"With this contract, Raytheon continues its role in providing critical services and solutions to help other countries deter, detect and interdict illicit weapons and materials that could harm their citizens." He added
Raytheon's layered defense systems protect from close, medium and long range threats--Photo from Raytheon official website
August 18, 2013- Philippine Navy's MPAC led the rescue efforts of the passengers of the ill-fated MV St. Thomas Aquinas owned by 2Go Shipping Company.
MV St. Thomas Aquinas collided with Sulpicio Express 7 in Cebu which resulted to more than 100 casualties (updated).
The MPAC or Multipurpose Attack Craft is designed by PROPMECH, an all Filipino company based in Subic.
First batch (3) of these vessels (MK1) were built in Taiwan and the second batch (3) (MK2) were built locally by our finest shipbuilders.
MPAC's first "baptism of fire" was last May 12, 2010 elections in Basilan where it was used to extract PCOS machines under heavy mortar fire from the rouge MILF rebels attempting to sabotage the election.
No less than President Benigno Aquino III mentioned this craft on one of his SONA speeches.
"With the acquisition of more MPACs our Navy will have more impact" said the president
Philippine Navy is now in the process of acquiring 3 more MPACs.
Navantia offered it's Avante 1800 corvette design. Photo taken from Navantia's product brochure.
August 18, 2013- Department of National Defense (DND) announced that the the bidding process to acquire two brand new frigates is still on go.
DND undersecretary for finance, munitions, installation and material Fernando Manalo said that the frigate program is still ongoing.
"It's in the process now. We are coming up with the final documents for bidding," Alano said
The upcoming new frigates will cost the government P18 billion, higher than the earlier P11-billion budget.
Incheon Class frigate being offered by South Korea
Five naval firms earlier expressed their interest to build these modern missile-firing frigates to boost the Philippines' naval capabilities in patrolling its waters. The firms are South Korea's Hyundai and Daewoo, Spain's Lavantia, West Australia's Austal and an unnamed Singaporean naval yard.
ST Engineering's New Generation Frigate (right) being offered by Singapore
DND is open to the option of building these frigates in our local shipyard for it will generate jobs. Filipinos are world renowned shipbuilders fourth in rank after China, South Korea and Japan.
Evaluation and studies on Italy's Maestrale-class frigates served as an "eye-opener" for the Navy, stating that acquisition of Maestrale will be costly in the long run.
"We found out that it will be more expensive to maintain second hand vessel(s) than buying a new one," Manalo said.
Alano also said that the crew of the Augusta 109 helicopters are now training in Italy to get the necessary qualifications.
"They will be part or the extension of the vessels to increase their capability for maritime surveillance," Alano said. "Helicopters will extend the range of our awareness because we have a very large area to cover," he added.
AW109 on-board US Coastguard Cutter's helicopter deck
These naval choppers will be assigned to our recently acquired Hamilton Class Cutters Del Pilar and Alcaraz. AW109 has anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability aside from maritime surveillance.
June 02, 2013- MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III led the distribution of new service firearms of the personnel of Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame in Quezon City, Tuesday.
22,603 units of brand new generation 4 Glock 17 pistol had been distributed to police earlier, from a total of 74,879 pistols purchased from Glock Trust Trade Philippines, Asia.
The Glock 17 pistol is similar to modern guns used by 60% of the police force in America, Europe and Asia.
According toPNPchiefDirectorGeneralAlanPurisima, PNP saved more than two hundred million pesos (P200, 082,954.24) froma total ofP1.2billionbudgetallocated topurchasingthe9millimeterpistol. Each unit costs 16, 659.94 pesos which is muchless thanitsretailpriceof 40, 940 pesos.
PNP's vision is to arm it's 148,000 strong police force including it's newrecruitsnationwide.
"As we witness the important event that brings us many steps forward in our objective to raise the capability and level of performance of our uniformed personnel," according to Purisima.
President Aquinobelievesthat providingmodernweaponsto the policewould help a lottoreducecriminalityin the country.
"Nearly fiftypercentof ourpolicein serviceare withoutguns, meaninghalfof yourrank are merely relying on their talismans orpraying that the bulletmight miss him on every encounter or negotiate with the notoriouscriminals to spare him," said PresidentAquino.
Aside fromintensifyingtocurbcriminality, the presidentalso announced the ongoing "cleaning" of the police ranks.
"There are already noroom for police who are "bossing"the streetsorbeing a godfather of anotherbadelement in our National Police. We will continueto exaltthedignityandintegrity of yourranks, and for those ignores. Iwill make sure that their fate will be on our prisons that we are expanding lately.
Next year, PNPplansto buynewlongfirearmsandpatrolcarsforthe betterment oftheir service. Meanwhile during the ceremony,PresidentAquinopromotedP02EdlynArbo andP02PhilipMoncatarfortheir outstandingperformance.
July 19, 2013- A French naval vessel with a length of 54.8 meters will be added tothe floating assets of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) next year, this is the LA TAPAGEUSE (P691).
This vessel came out from it's assembly line in 1987 and were equipped with armaments a year later.
PCGspokesmancommanderArmand Balilo said thatDOTC secretary Jun Abaya approved thepurchaseof La Tapageuse twoweeks ago
According to Commander Balilo, DOTC will shell out the sum of 6.2million eurosor 354million pesos for the purchase of the former french naval vessel inclusive of it's reconditioning.
La Tapageuse will be used for boarder patrol, search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, environmental protection and security.
The vessel is equipped with40 mmBofor L60 anti aircraft gun, a20mm GIAT F2cannon and two 7.62 mm antiaircraft machine guns.
In relation to this, PCG is under negotiation with Frenchgovernmentfortheacquisition of an additional82meter and fourbrand new24 meter patrol vessels for the first quarter of 2015.
Moreover, PCG is also due to receive tennewmulti-role patrol vessels from Japan. PCG's futurefloatingassetsmight bedeployedto West Philippine Sea in order to protect AyunginandScarboroughShoal which isclaimedbyChina. Meanwhile, 40 brand new 15person capacityZodiac rubber boats and 25 pieces of 300 aluminum hulled boats will be delivered to the PCG come September 2013. It has the capacity of ten people. Theremaining275aluminumhulledboats will be delivered early next year.These newly acquired boats will be brought to the province of Bicol for inter-island patrols. -With Francis Rivera-UNTV Correspondent-
QUEZON CITY, Philippines--A Philippine made Armored Security and Escort Vehicle prototype is now under evaluation by Research and Development Center-ASCOM. An armored car manufacturer for banks won the bid for PA's armored escort vehicle requirement.
The SEAV is armed with .50 caliber machine gun and has an armor that can withstand high caliber guns and grenade launchers. This armored vehicle will serve as escort for our troops to protect them from ambushes during their patrol along hostile places.
This version of Security & Escort Armored Vehicle has certain improvements and modifications which was learned from former MX8 prototype popularly known as "MX8 Barako" test and evaluations.
The SEAV protoype is currently on the process of LTO Registration. To be turned-over to ASCOM for proper disposition.
July 16, 2013- Department of National Defense (DND) through it's Special Bids and Awards Commitee said that the eight new attack helicopters to be acquired will have Laser Designation capable of firing laser-guided rockets.
The laser designator is a laser light source provides targeting for laser-guided bombs, rockets, missiles, or precision artillery munitions.
Boeing Company, Eurocopter Group, AgustaWestland NV and MD Helicopters, Inc. where among the four aerospace companies who have acquired the required bidding documents.
The DND attack helicopter program has a budget of P3.44 billion and will be sourced from the General Appropriations Act and the AFP Modernization Act Trust Fund of 2000.
August 18, 2013- Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Noel A. Coballes issued an order to the Civil-Military Operation Group (CMOG) to manufacture and distribute more MLX4, a prototype portable man-pack public address system, developed by the latter unit.
PA chief believes that MLX4 can help the PA and the CMOG in improving support to Army troopers in the conduct of disaster relief, rescue and humanitarian operations.
MLX4 is powered is by a 220 wattage of dual sourced batteries which could last up to 14 hours of continuous usage. It has a USB/SD port; two microphone inputs with tone control; a DVD player; an AM/FM radio; an MP3 port; and a siren that are all arranged in a backpack aluminum carriage with harness for easy mobility.
The two units of 150 watts horn-type speaker could reach approximately one kilometer in an open terrain and up to more or less 500 meters in built up areas.
According to Colonel Burgos, the Information Support Affairs Teams of the unit shall be equipped with MLX4 once it pushes the series of field tests and evolutions.
Ampac USA Seawater Desalination Watermaker Onboard US and Allies Navy Ships
A Military Sea Water Desalination Watermaker System from Ampac USA were installed recently on our newly acquired frigate BRP Alcaraz (formerly USCG Weather High Endurance Cutter-Dallas).
It is expected to greatly enhance our frigate's EEZ boarder patrolling capabilities. BRP Alcaraz can patrol our territorial waters for a month without docking to port.
This Watermaker is capable of producing sufficient Drinking Water from the sea to cover the demand of this ship during at sea operations.
August 6, 2013, SUBIC, Philippines Officialsof thePhilippineNavy, DFA secretaryAlbertDelRosario, out goingU.S.AmbassadorHarryThomasandPresidentBenignoAquinoIIIwitness thedocking ofBRPRamonAlcarazin AlavaPort, Subic,Zambales. The 378 ft. offshore patrol vessel traveled for twomonthsbeforereachingthePhilippinesfrom Charleston, South Carolina.
"The Philippine Navy is getting significant boost in its capabilities in keeping our archipelagic waters secured and safe" -VADM Jose Luis Alano-Flag Officer In Command, Navy
Like BRP DelPilar, the BRP RamonAlcarazisfrom the U.S.. CoastGuard. It's worthis oversix hundredmillionpesos, a littlemore expensivethan BRPGregorioDelPilar. It has a maximum speed of 28 knots and a length of 115.5 meters or 378 feet. It has MK75 Main Battery armament, using 76mm guns. It also has an MK36 SRBOC Missile Decoy Chaff.
The vessel maybe second hand but it's engines are brand new, and the main deck is equipped with the most state of the art navigational and radar systems. It has an S-Band and X-Band Radar suite with GPS and Automatic Identification System or AIS. It also has an echo sounder, a retractable hangar and a flight deck.
"Such positiveresultsempowersour governmentto furtherpromote themodernizationof oursoldiers.We are gradually erasing the former image of obsolete equipmentsandharsh condition ofourarmy," -President Benigno Aquino III
The ship will undergo dry docking for a month-and-a-half to undergo repainting and improvements of its facilities
The ship was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Philippine Navy World War II hero, who was credited for his gallant action under the direct command of General Douglas MacArthur for shooting down three Japanese planes off Bataan in 1942 before surrendering to the Japanese.
The Philippine Navy (PN) received six Riverine Patrol Boats (RPBs) from the United States this August, 2013 under a US Navy (USN) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract.
According to an official at manufacturer Silver Ships, a contract was signed with the USN in September 2011 and the boats were completed a year later. However, delivery was delayed until early May this year due to "non-availability of marine transport".
Although the boats are capable of open-water operations, they will be used primarily in shallow waters. They have a length of 40 ft, a beam of 10 ft 8 inches and a draft of less than two feet.
The boats feature a centre console configuration and a bow ramp to permit egress of embarked troops during beaching operations. They have three weapon mounts - two forward and one aft - for machine guns and grenade launchers as well as ballistic protection.
Powered by two Hamilton HJ-292 water-jets, each driven by a Yanmar 6LY2A-STP diesel producing 440 hp, top speed is 40 kt. Fully loaded, range is greater than 250 n miles at a cruising speed of more than 30 kt.
Besides Silver Ships, fellow US boat builder Willard Marine is supplying unspecified numbers of 7 m Sea Force 730 outboard rigged-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) to the PHL Navy under an FMS programme.
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino led Tuesday's arrival ceremony (August 6, 2013) for BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the warship acquired recently by the Philippine Navy from the United States (US) Coast Guard.
The welcome rites were held at the Alava Pier in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Aquino delivered an address during the event, which was attended by top security officials. The president also done the traditional "welcome handshake" with the BRP Alcaraz crew members.
Capt. Ernesto Baldovino, commanding officer of the ship, delivered a report on their voyage from the US, which lasted for about two months.
After the arrival ceremony, the 45-year-old ship will be prepared for its commissioning, which is expected to be held next month. The white frigate will also be repainted to grey, the color of Philippine Navy ships.
The BRP Alcaraz anchored at Subic Bay and was subjected to quarantine procedures
PN/Mapua Unveil 'Project Trident Strike'
--Friday, December 30, 2005
In a joint project with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Mapua Robotics Team recently completed a weapon prototype code named "Project Trident Strike" in the Naval Sea Systems Command (NSSC) in Fort San Felipe, Cavite City, last December 2, 2005.
Project Trident Strike is a remotely operated sentry gun which can be mounted on naval gun ships or in strategic locations for perimeter defense. The machine utilizes the armed forces' 50 caliber machine guns and is protected with a high impact bullet resistant plate armor.
Three Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)cameras are mounted on different locations atop the machine, providing a wider view range and clearer line of sight. The "Gun Director" may then view three corresponding LCD monitors and a robotic remote control system to aim the turret from a safe location, such as a command center or a boat's cockpit.
Humble Beginnings
The Mapua Robotics Team, of Michael Poblete, Leonard Canoza, Charles Rico, Ryan Floranda, Edison Tan, Ian Macalisang, Michael Lagundino, Paul Mikii Abuel and Juan de Vera, began the project last August. The absence of an allotted budget or official support did not hamper the efforts of the students who had to make use of the limited resources available here in the school. The initial prototype was constructed using chain and sprockets salvaged from bicycle parts.
The idea for the project came from the Robotics Team advisers Dean Roel John Judilla and Engr. Sherwin Magon from the School of Mechanical Engineering. The Mapua Robotics Team devised the plan for this project and presented the concept to the AFP. The project was immediately approved after the field test because of its performance and cost-effective price. Mass production of the said design is already underway.
A Bright Future
Since the completion of the weapons demonstration last year, Project Trident Strike has already received the support of the Philippine Armed Forces. The said project is now funded by the AFP's Self-Reliant Defense Program.
Future developments to the turret system may include the replacement of the plate armor with a bullet-proof dome and the installation of an automatic image processing program to facilitate automatic aiming.
Another project of the team, Project Phalanx, was also presented to the AFP. Project Phalanx is a more compact and mobile version of Project Trident Strike, and it is designed to be sent to dangerous situations or areas inaccessible to people. Unlike Trident Strike, Phalanx will make use of wireless technology for both the turret and gun aiming control. However, the machine is still in the early stages of its development.
