Philippines Defence Forum

[Reashot Xigwin]

I know its not "good news," but please like this anyway.

House Scraps P10-B Budget for More Fighter Jets


Procurement of multi-role fighter in 2016 was blocked by this budget scrapped (image : keypublishing)

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has scrapped a P10-billion appropriation recommended by the Senate for the procurement of more fighter planes for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The rejection was made during last week’s bicameral conference on the proposed P3.002-trillion 2016 national budget.
Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, House appropriations committee chairman, told reporters yesterday that House conferees did not accept their Senate counterparts’ recommendation as it would have taken P8 billion from funds for conditional cash transfers (CCT) to poor families.

“We could not accept it because it would have sacrificed the administration’s CCT program,” he said.

He said the House conferees, with support from Sen. Ralph Recto, prevailed in their stand that P8 billion be retained in the CCT program.

Recto was quoted as telling his colleagues in the conference committee that slashing the huge amount from CCT funds would have deprived at least 500,000 poor families of government assistance under the program for one year.

Ungab said instead of the P10-billion appropriation, the conferees agreed to allocate P1 billion for the PAF for the procurement of more air assets.

(Philstar)

 

[Cossack25A1]

I know its not "good news," but please like this anyway.

House Scraps P10-B Budget for More Fighter Jets


Procurement of multi-role fighter in 2016 was blocked by this budget scrapped (image : keypublishing)

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has scrapped a P10-billion appropriation recommended by the Senate for the procurement of more fighter planes for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The rejection was made during last week’s bicameral conference on the proposed P3.002-trillion 2016 national budget.
Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, House appropriations committee chairman, told reporters yesterday that House conferees did not accept their Senate counterparts’ recommendation as it would have taken P8 billion from funds for conditional cash transfers (CCT) to poor families.

“We could not accept it because it would have sacrificed the administration’s CCT program,” he said.

He said the House conferees, with support from Sen. Ralph Recto, prevailed in their stand that P8 billion be retained in the CCT program.

Recto was quoted as telling his colleagues in the conference committee that slashing the huge amount from CCT funds would have deprived at least 500,000 poor families of government assistance under the program for one year.

Ungab said instead of the P10-billion appropriation, the conferees agreed to allocate P1 billion for the PAF for the procurement of more air assets.

(Philstar)

Probably the procurement will be moved in 2017-18, although "baby-sitting" the poor people is not the right way in improving their lives.

 

[Zero_wing]

Ya that maoist makabayad bloc again stupid maoist their is money for the power and yet they wanna show off for the next elections stupid SObs

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

Some good news. Now like me.


Philippine Congress Approves 15 pct Rise in 2016 National Budget


STX France Next Generation Floreal frigates (photo : Navy Recognition)

The Philippine Congress has approved a 15 percent rise in the national budget next year to boost infrastructure and defence spending that will likely underpin the economy.

The larger spending on defence by the Philippines also comes as China nears completion of its man-made islands in the South China Sea, which has raised tensions in the region.

The 2016 budget, President Benigno Aquino's last year in office, will boost spending to a record 3 trillion pesos ($63.40 billion) from this year's 2.6 trillion pesos, said Feliciano Belmonte, speaker of the lower house of Congress.

The approval will pave the way for the signing of the budget bill into law by Aquino before the end of the year.

The budget will fund a 29 percent increase in infrastructure spending to help the economy sustain a 7-8 percent growth trajectory and fast track government spending.

"We are happy to hear of Congress' ratification of the 3.002 trillion peso 2016 national budget," Aquino's budget secretary Florencio Abad said in a statement, adding the spending will create greater inclusive growth.

Manila aims to increase infrastructure outlay to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) next year, from a target of 4 percent in 2015.

The government is under pressure to accelerate spending to prevent the economy from losing momentum. The export-reliant economy grew an annual 6 percent in the third quarter but is likely to pick up pace in the fourth quarter, underpinned by public spending.

Frigates, surveillance planes and radars
Aquino is also spending a record 25 billion pesos ($528.3 million) next year to purchase frigates, surveillance planes and radars to improve its capacity to guard its maritime borders.

Countries bordering the South China Sea have been increasing defence spending this year, said a report from IHS Jane's, predicting total regional spending is expected to reach $533 billion annually from $435 billion in 2015.

"Rising tensions in Asia Pacific have seen a long overdue process of military modernisation move up the political agenda in a number of countries," said Craig Caffrey, principal analyst at IHS.

The Philippines has challenged China's nine-dash-line claim on the South China Sea in the arbitral court in The Hague and is expecting a favourable decision next year. Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims on the sea, where about $5 trillion in seaborne goods passes annually.

(Reuters)

 

[yugocrosrb95]

I know its not "good news," but please like this anyway.

House Scraps P10-B Budget for More Fighter Jets


Procurement of multi-role fighter in 2016 was blocked by this budget scrapped (image : keypublishing)

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has scrapped a P10-billion appropriation recommended by the Senate for the procurement of more fighter planes for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The rejection was made during last week’s bicameral conference on the proposed P3.002-trillion 2016 national budget.
Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, House appropriations committee chairman, told reporters yesterday that House conferees did not accept their Senate counterparts’ recommendation as it would have taken P8 billion from funds for conditional cash transfers (CCT) to poor families.

“We could not accept it because it would have sacrificed the administration’s CCT program,” he said.

He said the House conferees, with support from Sen. Ralph Recto, prevailed in their stand that P8 billion be retained in the CCT program.

Recto was quoted as telling his colleagues in the conference committee that slashing the huge amount from CCT funds would have deprived at least 500,000 poor families of government assistance under the program for one year.

Ungab said instead of the P10-billion appropriation, the conferees agreed to allocate P1 billion for the PAF for the procurement of more air assets.

(Philstar)

If it involves Gripen C/D...

Philippines doesn't need to pay right away for Gripen since delivery would start in 2017 and Gripen C/D radar upgrade in 2016/2017 the PS-05/A Mark 4 has radar range of 300 kilometers for RCS of 4 m2 and 0.1 m2 at 120 kilometers.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

PHL's First Strategic Sealift Vessel to be Delivered May 2016


Strategic Sealift Vessel of the Philippine Navy (image, photo : timawa)

CLARK AIR BASE, ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA (PNA) --- The country's first strategic-sealift vessel (SSV) will be delivered to the Philippine Navy (PN) in May 2016, a military official confirmed on Monday.

"The ship is now 87 percent complete and will be launched this coming January (2016). The SSV will be delivered sometime this May," Navy spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said at the sidelines of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 80th founding anniversary Monday.

Eight seven percent completion means the ship's keel, propulsion, engine and other major systems are now installed.
The second SSV, which is now 46 percent complete, will be delivered in 2017, Arevalo added.

When asked if the SSVs are to be armed, Arevalo said defensive armament of the ships will be installed by the PN.
The Philippines has a two-SSV order with Persero for PHP3.87 billion which is sourced from the AFP Modernization Fund.


The SSV acquisition project for the PN was initiated upon the approval of Acquisition Decision Memorandum Number 2012-060 by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin last Oct. 30, 2013.

The Department of National Defense declared Persero as the Single Calculated Responsive Bidder with a bidding price of PHP3.87 billion on Nov. 18, 2014.

The SSVs are programmed to be the PN’s floating command center carrying out their main purpose as military sea-lift and transport vessels and also for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Further, these vessels are critical assets for civil-military operations due to their capability of transporting large number of soldiers, logistics, and supplies.

Moreover, each SSV has the capacity to house three helicopters. The Navy’s Augusta Westland-109s are programmed to be on-board components of these vessels.

These forthcoming landing platform dock strategic sealift vessels will improve the transport capability of the PN and boost the defense capabilities of the country.

(PNA)

 

[Nike]

credit to blackhand at timawa.net

 

[Nike]

credit to blackhand@timawa.net

 

[Aepsilons]

Looking really good, Pilipinas !

 

[pr1v4t33r]

The 1st NC212i for PAF is ready

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1092747067416397

Simulation of traffic alert & collision avoidance system on NC212i

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1088170704540700

PAF's NC212i Cockpit

 

[pr1v4t33r]

Old Image of SSV under construction at PT.PAL before mast installation.

 

[katarabhumi]

Propeller installation for Philippine SSV.

Picture credit to @CountStrike

 

[Cossack25A1]

Military and Defense News:

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Big-ticket items for AFP modernization await implementation
By Alexis Romero (philstar.com)
Updated January 4, 2016 - 12:56pm

MANILA, Philippines - Four big-ticket items of the military’s modernization program, including radars for territorial defense and drones for combat operations, are awaiting the issuance of notices of award by the Defense Department.

A notice of award is issued when a project already has a winning bidder. The issuance paves way to the actual implementation of the project.

Data obtained by The STAR showed that the military projects waiting the issuance of notices of award are the air surveillance radars worth P2.68 bilion, Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System Acquisition Project or drones worth P684 million, eight amphibious assault vehicles worth P2.5-billion, and Air Force full motion flight simulators worth P246 million.

The suppliers of all the projects have satisfied the requirements of the post-qualification phase. The post-qualification phase allows the government to check if the equipment or supplies being offered suits the needs of the military unit that will use them.

The procurement process of the four projects moved forward after President Aquino approved the shopping list of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program last July.

Before the president’s approval, the projects were put on hold because their budget could not be released.

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The air surveillance radars will be supplied by Elta System Ltd., a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.

Last year, The STAR reported that the Philippines would buy three air search radars from Israel to strengthen its monitoring activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Defense officials signed an implementation arrangement that would pave way to the purchase in February 2014.

The Philippines is boosting its external defense capabilities to protect its territorial interests amid China’s aggressive expansion in the South China Sea, where more than $5 trillion worth of trade passes through every year.

The supplier of the drones under the Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System Acquisition Project will be Triton Communication Corp.

The project involves the acquisition of six sets of drones or small unmanned aerial vehicle sub-system, nine sets of target acquisition device sub-systems, 12 kits of tactical sensor integration sub-systems, and an integrated logistics support package. According to the bid bulletin of the project, the equipment will be used by the three Marine brigades in Sulu, Central Mindanao and Palawan.

The eight amphibious assault vehicles, which will enable Marine troops to move from sea to shore, will be supplied by South Korean firm Hanwha Techwin. The project is one of the big-ticket items in the military’s upgrade efforts.

The full motion flight simulators will be provided by Pennsylvania-based firm Environmental Tectonics Corp. The equipment seeks to enhance the training and skills of military pilots.

Other big-ticket items approved by the president include two Navy frigates worth P18-billion; six close air support aircraft worth P4.97 billion; two units of long range patrol aircraft worth P5.98 billion; multi-purpose attack craft project worth P864.32 million; night fighting system worth P1.116 billion; two C-130 aircraft worth P1.6 billion; two naval helicopters worth P5.4 billion; and lead-in fighter trainer jets ammunition worth P4.47 billion.

The shopping list also includes four basing support system and logistics projects with a total budget of P2.15 billion. These projects are in various stages of procurement.

The military modernization shopping list submitted to the president require more than P60 billion.


AFP to buy ammunition for jets

Meanwhile, the military will spend P106 million to buy ammunition and explosives for the lead-in fighter trainer jets it acquired from South Korea.

The project involves the purchase of 93,600 rounds of 20mm ammunition for the modified A50 gun system of the jets, a bid bulletin published on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System showed. The opening of bids is expected to be held this month.

The military has purchased 12 jets from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion to strengthen its external defense capabilities. Two of the 12 jets were delivered to the Air Force last November 28.

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Big-ticket items for AFP modernization await implementation | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
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[Reashot Xigwin]

Philippine Court Upholds New US Defense Pact
Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

By Prashanth Parameswaran
January 12, 2016

US President Barack Obama gives remarks to media November 17, 2015 on board the BRP Gregorio del Pilar in the Philippines as part of a maritime security event.
Image Credit: Flickr/US Embassy Manila

The Philippine Supreme Court finally declared that a new defense pact signed between the Philippines and the United States nearly two years earlier is constitutional, local media outlets reported Tuesday.

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) – a pact inked in April 2014 between Washington and Manila that, among other things, would give U.S. troops and equipment wide access to Philippine military bases on a rotational basis – has been languishing in the face of a constitutional challenge in the Southeast Asian state. Though Philippine officials had been assuring outside observers that EDCA’s approval was a question of when rather than if, several deadlines had passed without a ruling into 2016.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court finally voted 10-4 to uphold the constitutionality of the agreement. Four justices – Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Arturo Brion, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro and Marvic Leonen – dissented from the ruling, while Francis Jardeleza inhibited.

With that, the Court resolved the most contentious concern by opponents of the pact: that EDCA is actually a new treaty that requires Senate concurrence by a two-thirds majority, rather than an executive agreement in line with the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty as the administration of Philippine president Benigno Aquino III has been arguing.

As I have argued previously, the approval is a significant development both for the Philippines itself as well as the U.S.-Philippine alliance (See: “Will the Philippines Approve a New US Defense Pact Ahead of Obama Visit?”). Resolving constitutionality issues around EDCA would allow defense officials to begin actually implementing arrangements – ranging from the construction of facilities to the prepositioning of defense equipment – that they have long been talking about. Getting that groundwork in place as soon as possible will be crucial as the Aquino administration which inked the agreement will soon be leaving office following upcoming presidential elections in May.

More specifically, these steps are vital to giving the Philippines – still one of Asia’s weakest militaries – what defense planners call ‘minimum credible deterrence’ in the face of a variety of threats including China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea (See: “The Truth About Philippine Military Modernization and the China Threat). With a ruling expected on the Philippine case against China in the South China Sea later this year, there is no telling how Beijing will react and Manila will need to be prepared for any fallout.

The Supreme Court’s decision is also a relief for the U.S.-Philippine alliance. Even if most had expected EDCA to eventually go through, legislative tests on U.S.-Philippine questions only conjure up nightmares of September 1991 when the Philippine Senate voted to end U.S. military presence in the country in a razor-thin 12-11 vote.

Timing-wise, the decision also usefully comes just as the two countries are set to begin their official ‘two plus two’ ministerial talks in Washington on Tuesday. The talks, which will see Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ash Carter meet with their counterparts, are expected to deal with regional security issues including the South China Sea and future U.S. military assistance to the Philippines. With the EDCA issue now all but resolved, both sides can both symbolically send strong signal about the alliance’s credibility and more substantively discuss next steps in defense cooperation.

Philippine Court Upholds New US Defense Pact | The Diplomat

 

[James David]

Yihaaaah!!! We are officially back in the PI!!!!! @gambit , @jhungary , @Nihonjin1051 white sandy beaches and cold beer!!!!