2016 holds big promise for the Philippines for new Strategic Sealift Vessels (SSV)

Courtesy of 40niner_com of Timawa.net

The first strategic sealift vessel or SSV acquired by the government for the Philippine Navy will be delivered in May 2016.

This is part of what President Benigno Aquino the third promised to the military in his last attendance at the 80th foundation anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"The ship is now 87 percent complete and will be launched this coming January (2016). The SSV will be delivered sometime this May," Navy spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said at the sidelines of the AFP anniversary Monday.

Photo Courtesy of: HAMBRA2002@PHOTOBUCKET

The SSV is a multi-role platform. This can be used in humanitarian assistance, disaster response and territorial defense. It can also be transformed into a floating hospital or a command center of AFP.

It has helipad which is wide enough to accommodate up to three helicopters.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla Jr. said that its defense armaments can be set up by the Philippine Navy itself.

“It has its self defense capability so we need to put its self defense equipment. It has provision where to put its firearms and weaponry system”

The Philippines has two initial orders of SSV in Indonesia amounting to 3.87 billion pesos and this is part of AFP modernization program fund.

The second SSV is targeted to be delivered in 2017 or 2018.

Spokesperson Col. Padilla said there can be additional acquisitions of strategic sealift vessels in the future.

“If there can be positive assessment after our first acquisition, we can acquire additional SSV for our disaster response”

The Navy’s Augusta Westland-109s are programmed to be on-board components of these vessels.

These forthcoming landing platform dock strategic sealift vessels will improve the transport capability of the PN and boost the defense capabilities of the country.

see also: DND and PT PAL INDONESIA-Persero inked in the agreement to build 2 SSV for the Philippine Navy