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| Upgraded M-113 that will arrive May and July (photo : Militaryphotos) |
PA spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato confirmed the report in a text message sent to State Run News Agency (PNA).
"Eighteen will be delivered by May 11 and the remaining 10 will handed over (by the supplier) on July 11," he added.
The M-113s will be supplied by Israeli defense manufacturer Elbit Systems Ltd. in a contract signed last June 22 with an allocated budget of Php882 million.
Fourteen of the M-113s will be configured as fire support vehicles, four as infantry fighting vehicles, six as armored personnel carriers, another four as armored recovery units.
Upgrades include installation of 25 mm unmanned turrets, 12.7 mm remote controlled weapon stations (RCWS) and fire control systems (FCS) for 90 mm turrets.
see: Philippine Army's M113 stocks (24) to get major upgrade from Elbit Systems of Israel for $19.7m
The PA operates around 343 AFVs (armored fighting vehicles) and APCs. Some 150 of these are the United Kingdom-built GKN "Simba" with the remaining AFVs consisting of US designed V-150 and V-200 APCs, M-113, Turkish made ACV-300s and British Scorpion CVRTs.
Around 85 percent of these AFVs are on green status (fully mission capable) while another 10 percent are on yellow status (undergoing repair) and five percent are on red (beyond repair).
These vehicles give the PA its armor capability and are organized into a 14-vehicle mechanized infantry companion for deployment with regular units.
Meanwhile, Senators Chiz Escudero and JV Ejercito will be holding a Senate Inquiry regarding the report that DND diverted funds intended for transportation expenses for 114 units of second hand M-113A2 donated by United States to purchasing upgraded M-113 units from Israel.
Department of National Defense (DND) declined to give comment on the issue and promised to clarify things out in the Senate Inquiry.
PALAKASIN ANG ARMORED CAPABILITY NG AFP PARA SA LABAN VERSUS TERRORISTS AND REBELS. WE NEED MORE MODERN ARMORED VEHICLES TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF OUR COMBATANTS IN BATTLE. PALAKASIN DIN ANG MILITARY BASES SA MINDANAO AT SA SPRATLYS; DAGDAGAN NG MADAMI NAVY SHIPS AT PATROL BOATS TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL TERRITORIES FROM GREEDY BULLIES LIKE COMMUNIST CHINA!!!
ReplyDeleteWE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS IN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY! WE CANNOT DEPEND ALONE TO UNCLE SAM WHO IS ALWAYS GIVING US MILILTARY JUNK AS COMPARED TO THE BILIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THEY ARE GIVING TO MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES LIKE PAKISTAN AND EGYPT!!! WE HAVE TO STAND ON OUR OWN IN DEFENDING OUR NATIONAL BOUNDARIES AND OUR COUNTRY! BAWASAN ANG CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT SO WE CAN SPEND MORE FOR DEFENSE AND OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS FOR OUR COUNTRY!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, we can not rely to US or to any country! We have to rely in ourselves.....With this we have to choose wisely for our new leaders in 2016 for God sake and for our dearest country.
ReplyDelete