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| A Shaldag Mk V Vessel, Photo from Wikimedia Commons |
The Philippine Navy (PN) gave an update about their Modernization Program to the One News/The Philippine Star Publication recently, and below are some of the most important points:
* The PN plans to retire a total of 26 Vessels this Year (2021), which will include the World War 2 Era Malvar class Vessels and the Tomas Batilo class Vessels which were donated by South Korea starting in the 1990s.
* Only 3 Malvar class Vessels are reportedly active right now, the BRP Pangasinan (PS-31), BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) and BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20).
* The old Vessels are reportedly now too expensive to operate and maintain and are no longer Fuel Efficient.
* The PN will prioritize the acquisition of 6 brand new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) to replace the Malvar class Vessels that will be retired. These new Ships will have longer Endurance and better Firepower and Communications Systems than the old Ships.
* 6 OPVs are planned to be acquired under Horizon 2 (until 2022) and another 6 in Horizon 3 (until 2028).
* Shipbuilders from Australia, South Korea and an unnamed Southeast Asian (SEA) State have offered to build the PN’s OPV.
* To replace the Tomas Batilo class Vessels, the PN is looking at 9 Fast Attack and Interdiction Craft (FAIC) from Israel. Only 4 out of 8 Tomas Batilo class Vessels are reportedly currently active.
* The PN is also currently discussing with the local Shipbuilder Propmech Corp. to deliver 36 Multi-Purpose Assault Craft (MPAC) in Horizon 3.
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* The “unnamed SEA State” mentioned above that was also offering to build the OPVs for the PN is Thailand as per previous News Reports.
* The FAIC from Israel will be the Shaldag Mk V, as shown in the PN’s Official 2020 Calendar.
* Aside from the 26 Vessels that will be retired this Year, the PN has also retired a number of Vessels the last couple of Years.
* The PN though is planning to replace those retired Vessels over the next two Horizons or until 2028 with 12 OPVs, 9 FAICs and 36 MPACs, or a total of 57 Vessels
* Philippine Navy undergoes re-fleeting as South China Sea tensions escalate {Archived Link}
* DTI introduces four Pilot Projects to concretely promote Self-Reliance and Revenues {Archived Link}
* Philippine Navy 2020 Calendar {Archived Link}
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they should revive the SRDP of late pres Marcos. so we can develop and build our own defense industries.
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