Philippines receives first batch of upgraded M113A2 APCs from Elbit

One of the upgraded M113A2 APCs disembarking from a navy ship. Photo c/o GMA News/Raffy Tima through MaxDefense Philippines.

The Philippine Army (PA) received the first batch of upgraded M113A2 tracked armored personnel carriers from Israel’s Elbit Systems Land & C4I, which are now equipped with Elbit’s Dragon Overhead Remote Controlled Weapon Station (ORCWS) with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines confirmed that Elbit Systems delivered the first five (5) units last April 2019, out 44 vehicles to be upgraded with installation of the Dragon ORCWS and the Combat NG networked battlefield computers. This is part of the contract signed between Elbit and the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) worth Php1.05 billion (US$20.5 million).

The project is part of the Revised AFP Modernization Program's 2nd List of Horizon 2 phase.

Part of the contract also involves converting five (5) M113A2 APCs into armored mortar carriers equipped with Elbit’s Soltam Cardom 81mm recoil mortar system.

The PA already has several units of M113A2 APCs equipped with the Dragon ORCWS, but the newly delivered models appear to be using the updated variant of the RCWS system, having a different body, and is said to have a better camera and improved sighting system.

The delivered units were immediately deployed to the southern Philippines to provide security on the upcoming mid-term national elections.



[1] MaxDefense Philippines
[2] GMA News
[3] MaxDefense Philippines