Philippines starts tender for supply of 81mm mortars

The Philippine Navy has opened a tender for 81mm mortars for the Philippine Marines.

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The Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) has released bid documents for the supply of 81mm mortars for the Philippine Navy (PN) as part of its modernization efforts to replace ageing equipment.

These new mortars will be issued to the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), which is one of the major units of the PN, which needs to replace its existing inventory of Vietnam War-era M29 81mm mortars acquired in the 1960s from the US.

According to Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines, 30 units equivalent to 5 fire support batteries are required, together with 40 units of Ballistic Computers and 8 sets of Forward Observer System equipment with a budget of Php185.9 million (US$3.64 million), with delivery expected within 1 year from release of Notice to Proceed (NTP).

Aside from 81mm mortars, the Philippine Navy plans to acquire 60mm and 120mm mortars for the PMC, with the procurement process expected to happen within the year.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is currently in the process of a 15-year modernization program, with the 2nd 5-year phase called Horizon 2 current ongoing covering the years 2019 to 2023.


[1] Philippines Department of National Defense
[2] MaxDefense Philippines