News 5 says that as per an anonymous Colonel of the Philippine Army (PA), the PA’s Special Forces Regiment is acquiring several dozen heavily armed Boats with Night Vision Equipment to fight the Islamic Militants in Mindanao.
The PA’s plan is to acquire 52 Light Scout Assault Boats, 18 Assault Boats and 8 Support Boats from the United States (US).
The US State Department has already approved their request for acquisition when the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) posted on their Website early this Month (August 2020) the possible acquisition of Boats from the US, but the quantity are different than what is outlined above in the PA’s plan.
The US approved the potential sale of 36 Scout Boats, 36 Assault Boats and 18 Light Support Boats.
The Assault Boats will be similar to the Philippine Navy’s (PN) Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC), but much more expensive at Php 131 million each compared to the locally made MPACs which cost only Php 90 million each without weapons.
The Assault Boats will be armed with three Heavy Machine Guns. The PA is expecting the budget for these Boats to be available in 2021 and 2022. The anonymous Colonel also mentioned that they are still confident that their acquisition of Light Tanks, 2nd-hand AH-1 Cobra Helicopters and PJ-10 BrahMos Missiles will still push thru.
SOURCES:
* ANTI-TERRORISM | Army steps up combat operations against Islamist Militants in the South
* Philippines - Scout, Assault and Light Support Boats with Armaments and Accessories
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