JP-PH "Formal" Naval Exercises and Cooperations

[Cossack25A1]

It is just a naval exercise between the PH Navy and JMSDF, I dunno why some Chinese members post here like they are preparing to massacre other countries' navies.

In a modest show of naval capability, the Philippines has been able to conduct naval exercises close to Palawan. Both their Navy and Coast Guard in coordination:

Wonderful looking ship! Tho I don't think the Philippines needs something that large. On that regard, Japan will be building 10 ships in the 40-45 m range for the Philippines. These will be enough to increase their interdiction capabilities throughout their vast archipelago of over 7,100 islands !

Coming to an island near you...lol

We really need to replace those WW2-era warships.

 

[Aepsilons]

hehehe, sometimes, in the heat of the moment, when nationalist sentiments come out, people can say some silly things. I admit, i have been bitten by this so called 'nationalist' bug a couple of times before. It gets even the best of us.

Let's all be level headed. Let's party, but don't have to party too hard, lol.



@Cossack25A1 ang ibig sabihin sa akin ay wag kita ma galit galit...

We really need to replace those WW2-era warships.

Replace? Not totally, but should upgrade armament and place it on core territorial defense. Arming those two ships with ASROCs, and ASMs should be considered. In fact, most of the ships in the Philippine Navy should be upgraded with ASMs, and ASROCs.

 

[Cossack25A1]

hehehe, sometimes, in the heat of the moment, when nationalist sentiments come out, people can say some silly things. I admit, i have been bitten by this so called 'nationalist' bug a couple of times before. It gets even the best of us.

Let's all be level headed. Let's party, but don't have to party too hard, lol.



@Cossack25A1 ang ibig sabihin sa akin ay wag kita ma galit galit...

Well, it won't be long until the "Jiang" members here start to turn this topic into a comedy, in fact, it may have already began.

Anyways, we should retire those old warships in our navy; those ships are way too old and I doubt they can be modernized; those two ships in the picture are the Admirable-class minesweepers which were used during WW2, while our newest naval assets are refurbished Coast Guard cutters.

If armaments upgrades is the only option, most of the guns on those ships have to go, leaving only the 3″/50 caliber gun and the four Ma Deuce machine guns but fire control systems will be an issue; I dunno if these WW2 ships can accommodate one.

 

[Huan]

Replace? Not totally, but should upgrade armament and place it on core territorial defense. Arming those two ships with ASROCs, and ASMs should be considered. In fact, most of the ships in the Philippine Navy should be upgraded with ASMs, and ASROCs.

Well, placing new weapons on old ships, they have to deal with serious systems integration and compatibility. Some modern weapon systems will be too heavy or too big for the small old ships.

 

[Aepsilons]

Anyways, we should retire those old warships in our navy; those ships are way too old and I doubt they can be modernized; those two ships in the picture are the Admirable-class minesweepers which were used during WW2, while our newest naval assets are refurbished Coast Guard cutters.

The last time i remember hearing that your government was considering purchasing Italian Maestrales. Any updates ?

 

[Cossack25A1]

The last time i remember hearing that your government was considering purchasing Italian Maestrales. Any updates ?

It was reported two years ago, but this happened.

MaxDefense: Why the Philippine Navy Dropped the Maestrale-class?

 

[Aepsilons]

It was reported two years ago, but this happened.

MaxDefense: Why the Philippine Navy Dropped the Maestrale-class?

Why? That was a good deal for you guys.

 

[Cossack25A1]

Why? That was a good deal for you guys.

One reason may have some relations with the old Hamilton-class cutters; from that blog it is said that the two cutters encountered which I will quote:

"...the Philippine Navy encountered structural, electrical and mechanical problems in both ships either wear & tear, obsolescence or damage, which may have or will affect their operational capability and readiness, as well as keep the ships to port too often. PF-15 may have only encountered the problems after commissioning, while PF-16 may have found such problems while still on port in Charleston, South Carolina. This might be the basis of DND's statements on costs maintaining & operating older ships."


The second reason may have something to do with the Maestrale-class itself, and quoting:

"The ships may be too expensive for their age and the DND wanted some pricing or deal adjustment. Php 6 billion for each ship seems cheap compared to other similar types in the used warship market. But with the limited budget of the DND , it needs to push more for its money. MaxDefense sources indicate that the DND wanted a better package than what the Italians are offering for the same price, especially regarding the air defense suite and replacement of older systems like fire control systems, although no exact details were made available."


The third reason has something to do with the idea of "cost-effective" in the long run, quoting:

"Might there be a better offer made by somebody else? MaxDefense sources said that South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) made a very juicy offer when the Maestrale deal was still ongoing. HHI reportedly offered a derivative of the Incheon-class frigate at around Php 9 billion each (incidentally this is the new budget of the PN for a new frigate). Perhaps the DND and PN were enticed to go for new instead of old by adjusting their budget. MaxDefense sources indicate that the additional Php 6 billion allocated for both ships will be taken from other naval projects as well as an additional budget coming from the Office of the President's emergency - discretionary funds or Malampaya Special Account (Fund 151). "

There are two more reason why this ship was dropped but the fourth one is more on the technical aspects and the fifth one is more on the political issues.

 

[Cossack25A1]

Rather than making a new thread, I decided to post this news here since it is redundant in starting a new topic that has an "updated" content.

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Philippines to Hold Military Exercises with US, Japan
Drills come amidst rising tensions in the South China Sea.

By Prashanth Parameswaran
June 19, 2015

The Philippines is set to hold military drills with its ally the United States and its strategic partner Japan next week, Philippine officials confirmed Thursday.

The exercises with the United States technically began on June 18, but will be formally opened only on June 22 and run till June 30. They are part of the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises which Washington carries out with several South and Southeast Asian nations (See: “US Eyes Expanded Military Exercises With ASEAN Navies”).

During the exercises, the United States will deploy its littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth, while the Philippines will deploy the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz. Philippine Fleet public affairs officer Lt. Liezel Vidallon said the exercises would involve helicopter crash and salvage, live fire, deck landing qualification, board and seizure and weapons systems training.

Vidallon also stressed that the holding of CARAT Philippines 2015 near the South China Sea was part of regularly planned and scheduled drills had nothing to do with Manila’s ongoing dispute with China.

The exercises with Japan – only the second ever between Tokyo and Manila – will be staged separately but during the same week as the U.S. drills (See: “Japan, Philippines Hold First South China Sea Naval Exercises”). As I reported earlier this month, Philippine Navy spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo had confirmed that the exercises will be part of a series of activities lined up for a country visit by the Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) from June 22 to June 26 (See: “Japan, Philippines to Hold New South China Sea Naval Exercise”).

Specifics of the exercises, however, still remain unclear. The Philippine Star noted that Philippine Navy spokesman Commander Lued Lincuna could not immediately provide any further details such as where the exercise would be held. But Japanese public broadcaster NHK had previously reported that the exercises will be held near the South China Sea and that the MSDF would dispatch a P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft to the drill.

Additionally, as I reported previously, Arevalo had earlier revealed that the exercises between Manila and Tokyo would include humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime search and rescue, and maritime situational awareness training and cooperation. There would also be staff-to-staff talks conducted during the visit to strengthen information-sharing and step up maritime situational awareness.

Lincuna, for his part, did say that the drills would help familiarize Philippine troops with modern equipment through the sharing of information, techniques and best practices on a technical level.

The drills between Manila and Tokyo come shortly after Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s visit to Japan during the first week of June. During the visit, Aquino and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe both pledged to strengthen the security side of their strategic partnership through a range of measures and agreed to open discussions on a visiting forces agreement that would allow Tokyo access to Philippine military bases (See: “Japan, Philippines Seeking New Pact on Military Bases”).

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Philippines to Hold Military Exercises with US, Japan | The Diplomat
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[Aepsilons]

 

[Cossack25A1]

Philippines, US, Japan Hold Military Drills Near S. China Sea
Simone Orendain

June 22, 2015 5:22 AM

MANILA—

Military exercises between the United States and the Philippines opened Monday, at the same time that the Japanese and Philippine navies started joint training. Both operations are being held on the island province of Palawan, located near the hotly contested South China Sea.

The drills with the United States involve a naval combat ship, the USS Fort Worth, and a P-3 Orion surveillance plane. The Philippine Navy says troops will train in flight surveillance and do live fire and ship search and seizure practice, among other exercises. Officials say these joint maneuvers will be in the Philippines internal waters on the eastern coast of the lengthy Palawan Island.

Philippine Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Lued Lincuna emphasized to VOA that work with Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force is “a maritime activity not a maritime exercise.” He said the work will have a strong focus on humanitarian and disaster relief as well as search and rescue help.

Lincuna said planes from each country, including the P-3C Orion surveillance craft of Japan, would fly beyond the Philippines territorial waters 22 kilometers from its coastline.

“The concept of the maritime activity is that both aircraft will take off and then go to the area -- which until now I don’t know where -- then they will have some activity there in relation to the search and rescue,” said Lincuna.

The South China Sea is on the western coast of Palawan with the contested Spratly islands situated around 300 kilometers to the northwest. China is building out artificial islands on at least seven outcroppings there. Almost all of them are also claimed by the Philippines.

Last week, the Chinese photo web portal sina.com.cn posted a 17-picture slide show of the nearly completed Fiery Cross Reef, including military personnel striking coy poses at island markers and breakwaters, a vegetable greenhouse and a pig pen.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have competing claims in the resource rich sea, which bears trillions of dollars in shipping trade. Japan has its own dispute with China over a small group of islands in the East China Sea.

In recent years the Philippines, with one of the smallest military budgets in the region, has been growing its modest store of military assets and has strengthened strategic partnerships with allies while China has grown more assertive in claiming “indisputable sovereignty” over nearly the entire South China Sea.

Military officials say this year’s joint maneuvers with the Americans build on years of annual exercises and are not related to the dispute between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. But analysts say the exercises with Japan have “symbolic” significance for Japan.

The New Patriotic Alliance Party of the Philippines has been opposed to the American military presence in the country. Its secretary general, Renato Reyes, said the country has to be “wary” about Japan’s military interest here.

“They probably plan to flex more and more of their military muscles in the coming years. We don’t want to be used as a steppingstone. We don’t want to be used as footstool for either American interventionism or Japanese militarism,” said Reyes.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino visited Japan early this month and said the two countries would begin forging a formal visiting forces agreement to have more Japanese troops rotate to the country.

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Philippines, US, Japan Hold Military Drills Near S. China Sea
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[Aepsilons]

Philippines, US, Japan Hold Military Drills Near S. China Sea
Simone Orendain

June 22, 2015 5:22 AM

MANILA—

Military exercises between the United States and the Philippines opened Monday, at the same time that the Japanese and Philippine navies started joint training. Both operations are being held on the island province of Palawan, located near the hotly contested South China Sea.

The drills with the United States involve a naval combat ship, the USS Fort Worth, and a P-3 Orion surveillance plane. The Philippine Navy says troops will train in flight surveillance and do live fire and ship search and seizure practice, among other exercises. Officials say these joint maneuvers will be in the Philippines internal waters on the eastern coast of the lengthy Palawan Island.

Philippine Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Lued Lincuna emphasized to VOA that work with Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force is “a maritime activity not a maritime exercise.” He said the work will have a strong focus on humanitarian and disaster relief as well as search and rescue help.

Lincuna said planes from each country, including the P-3C Orion surveillance craft of Japan, would fly beyond the Philippines territorial waters 22 kilometers from its coastline.

“The concept of the maritime activity is that both aircraft will take off and then go to the area -- which until now I don’t know where -- then they will have some activity there in relation to the search and rescue,” said Lincuna.

The South China Sea is on the western coast of Palawan with the contested Spratly islands situated around 300 kilometers to the northwest. China is building out artificial islands on at least seven outcroppings there. Almost all of them are also claimed by the Philippines.

Last week, the Chinese photo web portal sina.com.cn posted a 17-picture slide show of the nearly completed Fiery Cross Reef, including military personnel striking coy poses at island markers and breakwaters, a vegetable greenhouse and a pig pen.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have competing claims in the resource rich sea, which bears trillions of dollars in shipping trade. Japan has its own dispute with China over a small group of islands in the East China Sea.

In recent years the Philippines, with one of the smallest military budgets in the region, has been growing its modest store of military assets and has strengthened strategic partnerships with allies while China has grown more assertive in claiming “indisputable sovereignty” over nearly the entire South China Sea.

Military officials say this year’s joint maneuvers with the Americans build on years of annual exercises and are not related to the dispute between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. But analysts say the exercises with Japan have “symbolic” significance for Japan.

The New Patriotic Alliance Party of the Philippines has been opposed to the American military presence in the country. Its secretary general, Renato Reyes, said the country has to be “wary” about Japan’s military interest here.

“They probably plan to flex more and more of their military muscles in the coming years. We don’t want to be used as a steppingstone. We don’t want to be used as footstool for either American interventionism or Japanese militarism,” said Reyes.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino visited Japan early this month and said the two countries would begin forging a formal visiting forces agreement to have more Japanese troops rotate to the country.

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Philippines, US, Japan Hold Military Drills Near S. China Sea
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Excellent to read this, buddy. To be honest I'm just so amazed, baffled, by the shear speed of how the Philippines and Japan are cooperating with each other in maritime, air, and ground training. The interoperability capabilities of the Filipino troops should be congratulated as they are able to conduct joint exercises with Japanese and Americans separately, yet at the same time. From last month's recent naval PASEX between the JMSDF and the Philippine Navy, with this month's JASDF landing in Palawan --- just impressive, really.

Exciting times ahead for both Japan and the Philippines !!