Saturday, July 28, 2012

DND wants frigate with 'surface-to-air' missile power

MANILA, Philippines - Defense spokesperson Peter Paul Galvez announced on Friday that one of the frigates to be acquired by the Philippines will have "surface-to-air" capabilities. That is, the ship will have the capability to fire missiles, guided by radar or heat sensors, at airborne targets.

"Aside from this, our latest frigate will have heavier gun armament and other equipment that will make it very effective in patrolling and securing the country's waters," Galvez said in Filipino.

He declined to state the particular country the Philippines will acquire this ship but stressed that acquisition will be done through a government-to-government transaction.

The Philippines has taken on a new sense of urgency to upgrade its naval capabilities as tensions continue to rise around the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). US President Barack Obama's announced "pivot" for America towards the Pacific has stirred greater naval activity on the part of China, triggering cross-border problems between the Asian superpower and the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, and Russia across the East and South China Seas. Against this backdrop, the Philippine Navy has been exposed to be glaringly ill-equipped to patrol and protect its own shores. 

Earlier, DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the military wants to acquire additional naval craft from Italy.

"We are not relying totally on the United States (for) our equipment acquisitions. We are also looking at the possibility of getting some of our equipment from Europe, specifically from Italy, depending on our budget," he added.

Possible naval craft to be acquired from Italy by the Philippines are the "Maestrale" and "Soldati" classes.

The "Maestrale" class, operated by the Italian Navy, is primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare.

However the vessels are highly flexible so they are also capable of anti-air and anti-surface operations.

It has a displacement of 3,300 gross register tons and a speed of 33 knots.

The ship is armed with anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, long range guns and automatic weapons, making it ideal to protect the country's maritime borders against poachers, pirates and foreign aggressors.

The "Soldati" class, on the other hand, is a multi-purpose warship designed for anti-surface warfare.

It has a displacement of 2,500 gross register tons and has a top speed of 35 knots.

The ship has missile, torpedo and gun armament and is capable of carrying an anti-submarine helicopter. 

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7 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:42 PM

    I hope the Philippine Government will also look into acquiring 3 to 4 units of Oliver Perry Hazard Class frigates from the USA, 1 or 2 units of brand new Alvaro de Bazan Class F100 frigate from Spain or 1 or 2 units of Sachen Class frigate from Germany. Please include 2 or 3 Arleigh Burke Destroyers and 2 or 3 submarines.

    Perhaps, for our Exclusive Economic Zone Areas, the Philippine Coastguard should also consider acquiring 2 or 3 units of Brand New Class Cutter Bertholf with corresponding Seahawk Helicopter.

    I wonder what is now the status of purchase of FA50 fighter jets from South Korea

    Also the Philippine Government must consider fortifying ports and expanding airstrips now in the one of two Philippine Island in the Spratlys.

    Ang hirap kayang magpa alis ng squatter lalo na ang bully na China.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous4:37 PM

    un nga eh baligtad ang sitwasyon masmahirap kung squatter ang nagpapaalis sa mayayaman at makapangyarihan ahaha

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous9:38 PM

    To the since 2010 many people comment to have purchase an effective naval warfare ship and that is considerable the Perry Oliver hazard class but the Govt. considered the Hamilton class with out armaments i do not understand this people in the govt. how they assist the current situation in our territory;

    secondly since 2010 if they order the new naval vessel an anti ship missile with ASW as well i think now almost reach to the delivery.

    This is the style of military generals mahilig sa pwede na kahit luma bakit hindi sila magpatrolya sa area pati nga ang mga scout ranger nalalagasan ng marimi dahil sa concepto na kahit luma basta pwede pa hindi bibili ng mga bago.

    saan na yong mga protection force equipment para sa mga sundalo wala yatang news yon.

    Ganyan din yan ang nangyari sa naval ship na dapat bumili na ng brand new doon pa rin pwede na kahit luma ayan tingnan ang resulta.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous10:29 PM

    I am happy that the Philippine Government is acquiring 2 units of Maestrale or Lupo Class Frigates from Italy. If they will also acquire at least 2 units of Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigates and at least 1 unit of Arleigh Burke DDG-51 Destroyer and at least 1 unit of Legend Class Cutter Bertholf, i am pretty sure our navy will be able to defend our maritime borders including our EEZ.

    Additionally, everyone would be happier if the Philippine National Defense will acquire at least 12 units of F-22.

    Tapos kailangan ma-open up na rin ang mga joint ventures ng Foreign and Local companies (with appropriate transfer technology program) to produce fighter jets and warships. Sa totoo lang dapat iyong mga Americans, Australians, Japanese, Canadians, Italians, South Koreans, UK, French companies ay piliin ang Philippines kasi di hamak na pulido naman gumawa ang mga Pinoy.

    Ang dapat gawin ng mga Philippine embassies in foreign land ay magkaroon ng mga Information and Trade Attache' para i-promote ang Philippines para mag invest dito ang mga foreign companies. Si Ambassador Cuisia parang mahina ata, dapat sa kanya maging proactive.

    God bless the Philippines.

    ReplyDelete
  5. f- 22 raftors are not for sale, its too expensive and way beyond our budget. lets be realistic greffin will be enough for us anyway we dont have any ambition to attack a neighbor

    ReplyDelete
  6. f-22 raftor is not for sale its way beyond our budget, greffin will be a better alternative its multi role and inexpensive to maintain, anyway we dont have ambition for conquest.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous6:32 PM

    Oliver Hazard Perry class Guided Missile Frigate - FFG na lang

    ReplyDelete

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