Philippines to acquire more military hardware including Brahmos missiles, submarines
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| Hanwha Ocean offered the KSS-IIIPN submarine to the Philippine Navy. Photo c/o Hanwha Ocean. |
The Philippines is expected to continue its ongoing military modernization in the next decade, and will be adding more military hardware to increase its deterrence and combat capabilities.
During a speech to local business leaders on 12 February 2025, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said that the military modernization is now in its 3rd phase and has set aside US$35 billion over the next 10 years.
Gen. Brawner mentioned that there are plans to acquire more Brahmos anti-ship missile systems from India, as well as pursue the long-stalled plan to acquire submarines for the Philippine Navy (PN).
According to Gen. Brawner, submarines are very important capability especially for an archipelagic country like the Philippines.
In an enquiry with Australian-based Filipino defense analyst Max Montero, the AFP is currently implementing its so-called “Re-Horizon 3” phase which includes plans to purchase land-based anti-ship and surface-to-surface missile systems for both the Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps, at least a couple of submarines plus additional frigates and corvettes and expanding bases for the Philippine Navy, and 40 new fighters and additional surface-to-air missile systems for the Philippine Air Force.
Mr. Montero stressed that these efforts are greatly due to China’s continuous harassment and breaching of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, and the reported efforts by China to undermine the Philippines’ security and overall stability.
France, South Korea, Spain and other European countries are believed to have offered to sell new submarines to the Philippine Navy, which includes developing its submarine doctrine and basing.
Previously both Gen. Brawner and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. mentioned that the Philippines plans to acquire Mid-Range Capability missile systems, with the American Typhon missile system believed to in their sights.
The Typhon Mid-Range Capability can launch both the SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missile which can range deep into the Chinese mainland.
Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
February 13, 2025
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