Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization News, 2022

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December 30, 2022: A nice Year Ender Summary by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on some of the maror new Assets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that were delivered this Year of 2022. The Assets includes the SpyDer Surface to Air Missile (SAM) System, T129B ATAK Helicopters, Autonomous Truck Mounted-howitzer System (ATMOS) and Fast Attack Interdiction Craft (FAIC)

SOURCE: Yearender: AFP ends 2022 with Anti-Air Missile Capability {Archived Link}

November 14, 2022: The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is still hoping to acquire Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) Aircraft in their Inventory, this has been going on for quite some time now, I hope they will finally get to sign a Contract for them soon

SOURCE: Multirole Fighters still in AFP Modernization ‘Wish List’: DND {Archived Link}

October 14, 2022: It’s good that the United States (US) is providing Usd 100 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to the Philippines. The Problem though is that these won’t go very far if they are going to be used to buy American-made Military Equipment or Weapons because those are almost always prohibitively expensive. For example, Usd 100 million will only likely buy two brand new American-made CH-47F Chinook Helicopters while the same amount of Money would already buy six brand new Russian-made Mi-171 Helicopters

SOURCE: U.S. grants Philippines $100 million in Foreign Military Financing {Archived Link}

September 28, 2022: The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has raised Php130 billion from 1993 to 2022 thru its disposition of Assets. Out of that amount, 43% or Php 53 billion went to the Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 

SOURCE: BCDA raises P130B {Archived Link}

September 20, 2022: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recently thanked the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for its big help in its Modernization. The BCDA contributed Php 25 billion to the AFP Modernization from 2017 to 2022 

SOURCE: Bacarro cites BCDA’s vital support to AFP Modernization Program {Archived Link}

September 21, 2022: Top Officials of the French Navy and the French Company “Naval Group” recently urged the Philippines to acquire Submarines, and of course they want it to be their Scorpene-class Submarines. This is just one of the many Press Releases we’ve seen recently about France promoting their Submarines to the Philippines. The French are really doing what is called as a “Full Court Press” in Basketball when it comes to selling their Subs to us ...

SOURCE: Philippines prodded to acquire Sub Fleet for ‘credible’ Territorial Defense {Archived Link}

September 16, 2022: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has started the construction of a three-storey, 25 Bed capacity Hospital Building inside Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) Headquarters in Lucena, Quezon recently

SOURCE: AFP starts construction of new 3-story Hospital in Quezon {Archived Link}

September 15, 2022: Another Pinklawan Article pushing for the Scorpene-class Submarines for the Philippine Navy (PN), the previous Article I posted here was written by a different Author, but also from Albert Del Rosario’s Stratbase ADR Institute. Again I don’t mind, but I am a bit curious as to why France is getting a lot of support from the Pinklawans lately

SOURCE: The 21st Century Philippine Navy: The Challenge of building capabilities amidst unfilled expectations {Archived Link}

September 11, 2022: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will receive at least Php 40 billion in 2023 for its Modernization Projects, this will be used to make Periodic Payments for existing Multi-Year Modernization Contracts and to make Initial Payments for New Acquisitions. The Php 40 billion have “Programmed Appropriations” already, meaning the have definite funding Sources. Another Php 5 billion was allocated for the AFP Modernization, but these have “Unprogrammed Appropriations” or their funding is still not definite yet

SOURCE: AFP Modernization Budget bumped up to P40 billion {Archived Link}

September 10, 2022: Looks like it’s still a neck to neck fight between France’s Scorpene-class and South Korea’s DSME 1400PN-class for the Submarine Acquisition Program of the Philippine Navy (PN). The Scorpenes seem to be backed by the Pinklawans though as the Article was based on one made by the Stratbase ADR Institute of Albert Del Rosario. I don’t like the constant Anti-China, Pro-United States (US) Propaganda that Del Rosario and Manny Pangilinan’s Camp keeps putting out, but then again it is really up to the PN on what Submarine they want, if they choose the Scorpene then good also, the important thing is that they ended up with some. 

SOURCE: France could fulfill PH Military’s Submarine dream as 2 countries boost Partnership in Regional Defense {Archived Link}

September 9, 2022: The Philippine Navy (PN) said that once all of its newly acquired Vessels arrive, the average age of its Ships will then be around 10 Years old, at par or even better than that of our Maritime Neighbors  

SOURCE: PH Navy to get more modern Warships in next 5 Years {Archived Link}

September 1, 2022: The Spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Colonel Medel Aguilar recently told the Press that the Modernization of the AFP will continue under the Administration of President Bong Bong Marcos (PBBM). Also all of the Contracts signed by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD) before he stepped down from Office that have yet to be delivered will proceed as scheduled

SOURCE: AFP Modernization to continue under Marcos Admin: Spox {Archived Link}

August 20, 2022: The Philippine Navy (PN) recently activated the Naval Special Operations Command (NAVSOCOM) into a Regular Combat Support Command which specializes in Unconventional Warfare using Methods such as Demolition, Intelligence, Underwater Operations, etc. 

SOURCE: PH Navy activates command of Elite Naval Troops {Archived Link}

August 16, 2022: The Spokesperson of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Colonel Maynard Mariano just recently said in an Interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that they are open to acquiring South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae Fighter Aircraft for their Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) Program

SOURCE: PAF eyes SoKor's 'Boramae' Multi-Role, Supersonic Aircraft {Archived Link}

August 16, 2022: One problem with Western Arms exporting Countries is that as soon as they start becoming Major Players in the Arms Market, Sectors of their Societies start demanding to include “Human Rights” as a Factor before selling their Weapons to other Countries. Like South Korea for example, pressure is slowly being exerted on their Government to do so, and now it seems that their Government is giving in to these demands. You don’t see the same thing happening with Russia or China. Just saying, though …

SOURCE: The dark side of South Korea’s booming Weapons export Business {Archived Link}

July 25, 2022: The Philippines was South Korea’s biggest Buyer of their Weapons from 2012 to 2016, accounting for 16% of their Total Military Exports then. That of course has now changed as South Korea has gotten more Customers over the Years

SOURCE: South Korea’s Arms exports triple, rises to 8th-largest Exporter {Archived Link}

July 19, 2022: South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae Fighter Aircraft finally took its first Flight today, July 19, 2022. Still a long way to go for this Aircraft, though. Flight Tests will be until 2026 after which Production will start with the Block 1. I wished they had started things much sooner, though

SOURCE: S.Korea’s first homegrown KF-21 Fighter Jet takes first Flight {Archived Link}

July 12, 2022: The Officer In Charge (OIC) of the Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. vowed recently that the Modernization Programs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue

SOURCE: Faustino pledges to continue Horizon 3 of AFP Modernization {Archived Link}

July 8, 2022: The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Company officially released footages of their KF-21 Boramae Fighter Aircraft doing Ground Tests, it is scheduled to make its First Flight this Month of July 2022. It looks pretty good, but for the Philippines though this might take a bit of awhile to be available as a Multi-Role Fighter (MRF)

SOURCE: [공식] KF-21 지상 활주 테스트(Ramp Taxi) 공개! "최초 비행이 임박했습니다!" {Archived Link}

July 1, 2022: President Bong Bong Marcos said that he aims to have a stronger, bigger and more effective Philippine Air Force (PAF) under his Administration during his Speech at the PAF’s 75th Founding Anniversary. He mentioned improving the PAF’s Surveillance Capabilities and giving it State-of-the-Art Fighter Aircraft 

SOURCE: PBBM sees stronger, more effective Air Force under his Watch {Archived Link}

June 17, 2022: The former Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Retired Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. will be the next Secretary of Defense under the Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM). He was appointed as Officer In Charge (OIC) as of now since he only retired last November 2021 and won’t be eligible for a Full Post until November 2022

SOURCE: Faustino capable of continuing DND Momentum: Lorenzana {Archived Link}

June 16, 2022: South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae Fighter Aircraft is now conducting Ground Tests in preparation for its First Flight next Month of July 2022. In contrast, the Tejas Mk1A which is scheduled to have its First Flight this Month of June 2022 has yet to be rolled out

SOURCE: KAI KF-21, South Korea’s Stealth Jet, prepares for Maiden Flight {Archived Link}

June 10, 2022: Yes, I agree that the Philippines’ Defense Posture has increased a lot under the Duterte Administration because Digong did buy a lot of stuff for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), this despite the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic which slowed down procurement of Military stuff for around two Years while it was at its peak

SOURCE: PH Credible Defense Posture boosted under Duterte Admin: DND {Archived Link}

June 3, 2022: Interesting that South Korea is now talking about cooperation with our local Arms Industry Days after a Group expressed its opposition towards awarding the Contract of the Philippine Navy’s (PN) Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) to the South Korean Company Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) since they will not be made in the Philippines

SOURCE: S. Korean, Filipino Defense Chiefs discuss Arms Industry cooperation {Archived Link}

June 1, 2022: President Rodrigo Duterte’s strong support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has enabled the Military to effectively respond to various Security Threats and to the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic during his Term

SOURCE: More responsive AFP, result of PRRD's strong support for Military {Archived Link}

June 1, 2022: As reported in the Indian Press in April 2022, the Flying Test Bed (FTB) of the Tejas Mk1A is supposed to have come out already in May 2022, but I checked the latest News and it seems that hasn’t happened yet. The Mk1A is supposed to start flying this Month of June 2022, so that is something to keep watch since India is offering this Aircraft to the Philippines

SOURCE: Tejas Mk1A FTB Rollout Next Month {Archived Link}

May 27, 2022: The Japanese Government is planning to allow the export of its own Fighter Jets, Missiles and other Weapons to 12 Countries including the Philippines. Changes on their Laws to allow for such a thing won’t happen soon, though, it is expected to be completed by March of 2023

SOURCE: Japan to enable Fighter Jet and Missile exports to 12 Nations {Archived Link}

May 26, 2022: Top Officials of the Indian Company BrahMos Aerospace visited the Commanding General of the Philippine Army (PA) in Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila recently. The PA is planning to acquire two Batteries of the BrahMos Missiles made by their Company soon

SOURCE: Philippine Army (PA) Facebook Page Post, 05/26/22 – 1506H {Archived Link}

May 25, 2022: The Philippine Navy (PN) recently signed an Agreement with the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the Maintenance, Repair and in the future Overhaul of the two Jose Rizal class Frigates that HHI made for the PN

SOURCE: Hyundai, other Shipping Firms sign MOAs with PH {Archived Link}

May 18, 2022: The Philippine Navy (PN) recently activated its new Naval Operating Reporting System (NORS) which gives it the ability to monitor the Status of all of its deployed Naval Ships, Aircraft and Marine Units. It also  activated its new Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) which allows it to route Communications or Correspondences to and from the PN Headquarters

SOURCE: New Comms System enables ‘Real Time’ tracking of PH Navy’s Assets {Archived Link}

May 16, 2022: President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a Law that sets the Term of Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to three Years. The new Law also made other changes like prohibiting Military Officers from being appointed as Secretary of National Defense within a Year from the date of the Officer's Retirement or Resignation

SOURCE: PRRD signs Law fixing Term of AFP Chief, other Senior Officers {Archived Link}

May 13, 2022: We have been buying a lot of stuff from South Korea, our Frigates and Corvettes are from them, and so will likely be the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV). It’s good that they have been giving us “Offsets” or free stuff also with the stuff that we bought. Makes me wonder though, if Bong Bong Marcos (BBM) will indeed have more relaxed relations with the United States (US), then will be buying more Military Hardware from them under his Administration?  

SOURCE: Philippines fast becoming Key Market for Korean Military Hardware {Archived Link}

May 13, 2022: I think of course that the Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue with the next Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM). Personally I think that the long planned Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) and Submarine acquisition should be made under his Term
SOURCE: Philippine Navy official hopes next Admin will continue AFP Modernization {Archived Link}

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