Philippines opens tender for combat engineering vehicles, heavy logistics trucks

 

The ASCOD Pizarro II Castor Sappers Combat Vehicle. Photo c/o Defensa.com.

The Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) has raised an Invitation of Bid to supply the Philippine Army (PA) with new Combat Engineering Vehicles and several logistics trucks.

The procurement, with an allocated budget of PHP 173 million (US$3 million), would be made through public bidding, with the DND releasing information on the technical specifications of the combat engineering vehicles. Submission of bids were scheduled to be closed by 14 October 2022.

Based on the technical specifications, the vehicle would be tracked, can be equipped with surface clearing device and towed mine clearing line charge system, would weight 20 tons maximum, diesel engine powered, can mount turret up to 20mm autocannon, capacity for at least 8 personnel, fully amphibious, and meets specified armor protection.

According to Philippine defense page Philippine Defense Resource, the specs appear to be favorable to the ASCOD tracked armored vehicle, specifically the Spanish-made Pizarro II Castor sappers combat vehicle.

In a separate tender, the DND also released an Invitation to Bid for several dozen logistics trucks with an allocated budget of PHP872.9 million (US$15 million). 

The project is being tender under the Forward Support Equipment Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army, and aims for the delivery of 32 Equipment Transporter Trucks, 30 Heavy Fuel and Water Trucks, and 24 Medium Wrecker Trucks.

The technical specifications mention that the tractor heads for heavy equipment transporter and fuel/water tankers are 6x4 driven, maximum of 13.5L diesel engine with a minimum of at least 420 horsepower output. The medium wreckers specifies a 6x6 drive but with similar engine size and output.

These trucks will help improve the transport and logistics capabilities of the Philippine Army as the service expands its mechanized and motorized fleet.

[1] Philippine Defense Resource

[2] Philippines Department of National Defense

[3] Philippine Defense Resource

Thailand signs contract for Elbit Hermes 900 UAVs

 

The Hermes 900 UAV. Photo c/o Marc Israel Sellem.

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) will procure the Hermes 900 medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial system (MALE UAS), with a contract signed with Israel’s Elbit Systems to supply them for THB4 billion (US$107 million).

The RTN’s Commander in Chief Admiral Somprasong Nilsamai and Elbit Systems’ Director of Business Development and Marketing Mr. Nissim Assaf Cohen signed the contract between the two parties.

No mention was made on the total quantity being procured, but the RTN mentioned that budget has been set to procure the UAS over a period of 4 years from 2022 to 2025.

The Hermes 900 was selected to meet requirements for UAS that will conduct patrols on Thai waters and shipping routes, prevent and suppress illegal activities at sea, as well as assist in sea rescue missions.

The RTN also confirmed that the Hermes 900 will be armed and can accurately attack targets, which points that they are configured to be unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) which can be used for strike missions and armed with small air-to-surface missiles.

Thailand becomes the second user of the Hermes 900 in the Southeast Asian region, with the Philippines receiving theirs a few years ago. Other countries operating the Hermes 900 include Israel, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Iceland, Mexico, and Switzerland.

The RTN also operates the smaller Hermes 450 which it procured in 2017.

[1] Thai Daily News

[2] Reuters

[3] Flight Global

Malaysia expected to finalise deal for new EVA 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzers from Slovakia

 

The EVA artillery system. Photo c/o Konstrukta Defence.

Malaysia is expected to conclude a deal with Slovakia for the supply of EVA 155mm self-propelled howitzers for the Malaysian Army.

According to Institute for Central Europe, the deal may involve between 16 to 18 units, and no agreement has been reached regarding production and potential licensing.

Should this deal push through, Malaysia will be the first user of the EVA 155mm self-propelled howitzer system.

The EVA was developed by the Konstrukta Defence and uses a 155mm/L52 howitzer compatible with standard NATO ammunition, and is mounted on a Tatra 815 6x6 or 8x8 armored cab truck depending on the end user’s preference. 

It was developed with technologies coming from the larger Zuzana 2 155mm self-propelled howitzer and is believed to also use some components from the said artillery system.

EVA artillery system is equipped with an automatic ammunition loader with a maximum rate of fire of 5 rounds in the first minute and 13 rounds in 3 minutes, and has a maximum range of 41 kilometers using Extended Range rounds.

[1] Institute of Central Europe

[2] Konstrukta Defence

Philippines puts first two Acero-class fast interdiction crafts into service

The two Acero-class interdiction crafts during Christening ceremonies. Photo c/o Philippine Navy.

 

The Philippine Navy has formally brought into service the first two Acero-class fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC).

The ceremonies were held at the Philippine Navy’s headquarters in Manila on 06 September 2022, with the ships identified as BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901) and BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG-902), both named after Philippine Marine Corps personnel who were Medal of Valor awardees 

The Acero-class boats were built by Israel Shipyards in their facility in Haifa, Israel using the Shaldag Mk. V fast patrol boat design.

Both crafts were launched on 26 June 2022. They were reported to be heading for the Philippines aboard a commercial cargo vessel as of August 2022.

These were acquired under a PHP10 billion (US$200 million) deal signed between the Philippines Department of National Defense and the Israeli Ministry of Defense in early 2021 under the Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy.

7 more boats are to be delivered to the Philippine Navy, including at least two boats that will be built locally by the Philippine Navy’s Naval Yard under a transfer of technology agreement.

As part of a separate contract, the boats are to be armed with Rafael’s Typhoon and Mini Typhoon remote controlled weapon systems (RCWS), with four of the boats to be also equipped with the Rafael MLS-NLOS missile launcher for the Spike-NLOS surface-to-surface missile.

The Philippine Navy’s Littoral Combat Force will operate the Acero-class FAICs, and will replace the retired Tomas Batillo-class patrol gunboats, which were formerly with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) and donated to the Philippines in the 1990s.

[1] Philippine News Agency

[2] Manila Times

[3] Philippine Defense Resource

Australia hints at possibly purchasing the B-21 Raider stealth bomber

CGI of the B-21 Raider bomber. Photo c/o Northrop Grumman.

Australian Defence Minister Hon. Richard Marles has made a strong hint that Australia might consider purchasing the Northrop Grumman B-21 Spirit stealth bomber.

This was made during an interview with The Australia on 26 August 2022 as Min. Marles discussed about the future of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

He said the B-21 Raider, which is still in development for the US Air Force, was being examined to fill-in requirements for a new long range strike capability.

Just days before, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall mentioned about willingness by the US Government to discuss with its Australian counterparts regarding interests and willingness to help on it.

There were previous recommendations from Australian defense experts on the potential consideration of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber for RAAF’s long rate strike capabilities that were lost when the service retired its F-111C/G Aardvark strike aircraft fleet in 2010.

The US Government still have sole discretion to decide if it will allow allies like Australia to procure the B-21 Raider bomber, as indigenous unique high-technology defense systems are something the US military hopes to keep to themselves for fear of the technology being reverse engineered by other countries.

But the recently formed AUKUS alliance could be a deal-breaker as the US hopes to tap the United Kingdom and Australia to secure the Asia Pacific region as China increases its presence in the Western Pacific region.

The price of the B-21 Raider would also be a factor, although there are signs that development costs have been kept in acceptable levels, something that is rare in most new defense technology system developments the US undertook in the last few decades.

[1] The Australian

[2] Australian Aviation

Philippines receive offer for additional Black Hawk helicopters as alternative to Chinooks

Black Hawk helicopters. Photo c/o PZL Mielec.

The Philippines was offered to purchase 13 to 14 new Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters by the United States to replace an earlier deal for 16 Mil Mi-17 Hip helicopters from Russia that was cancelled back in June 2022.

The offer for Black Hawk is the second offer made by the US government, which earlier offered the Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters as alternative to the Russian ones.

This was confirmed by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez to lawmakers.

Ambassador Romualdez said the US offered between 13 to 14 Black Hawk helicopters to fit the budget set by the Philippine Air Force for its Heavy Lift Helicopter Acquisition Project.

Although not much information were provided, Philippine defense page MaxDefense Philippines mentioned that the offer is to give the PAF options of either getting larger, more expensive helicopters like the CH-47F Chinook but in limited numbers, or to procure more but smaller helicopters like the S-70 / UH-60 Black Hawk.

Due to the higher price of the CH-47F Chinook, it is expected that only between 4 to 5 helicopters can fit the PAF’s budget, which may not be enough considering Russia offered to sell 16 Mil Mi-17 Hip helicopters, and even made a commitment to probably provide an extra helicopter as part of the contract.

The Philippines Department of National Defense was reported to have cancelled a contract with Russia’s Sovetechnoexport for the sale of Mil Mi-17 Hip helicopters for the PAF due to fear of sanctions from CAATSA.

A contract was signed back in late 2021, only to be cancelled in June 2022, under instructions from the Philippines’ former president Rodrigo Duterte.

 The PAF already has 15 S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters in service, and has 32 more units ordered from Sikorsky’s Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec. The PAF also has an older S-70A Black Hawk acquired in the 1980s, and is used as a Search and Rescue helicopter.

Meanwhile, the PAF does not have any helicopters larger than the Black Hawk, and was hoping that the Heavy Lift Helicopter Acquisition Project would give the service a larger helicopter and bringing in new capabilities including transporting larger or heavier payloads.

[1] Manila Times

[2] MaxDefense Philippines

[3] Aerotime Hub