Philippine Navy needs to further develop maritime surveillance

Beechcraft King Air TC-90 patrol plane. (Photo by Priam F. Nepomuceno)

With the Philippines having massive maritime domains, the Philippine Navy (PN) needs to further develop its maritime surveillance capability to fully secure its territorial waters.

This was emphasized by PN flag-officer-in-command Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad during the turn-over ceremony of the three Beechcraft King Air TC-90 aircraft donated by the Japanese government on Monday.

Philippine Navy retires BRP Rajah Humabon (PS 11)

Philippine Navy retires WW II-era BRP Rajah Humabon from service

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark R. Alvarez [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

After 38 years of service, the Philippine Navy (PN) has formally retired its oldest warship, the BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11), one of the last World War II-era warships still in active service, during short ceremonies in Sangley Point, Cavite Thursday morning.

This was confirmed by Philippine Fleet spokesperson Lt. Sahirul Taib in a message Thursday.

The retirement of BRP Rajah Humabon is in-line with the Navy's Strategic Sail Plan of "moving to legacy vessels to more and capable and modern vessels," he added.

As of this posting, the Navy is awaiting the completion and delivery of two missile-armed frigates from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The contract is worth PHP18 billion, including weapon systems and munitions, with the delivery of the first ship expected by 2020.

Once commissioned in Philippine service, the frigates will give the Philippine Navy an anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine and electronic warfare capability.

The decommissioning is also in line with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's directive to retire the Navy's remaining World War II-era warships due to their old age which also requires expensive maintenance.

"Yes, my directive is to fast track the decommissioning of World War II vintage ships. They are old and uneconomical to maintain," Lorenzana added.

Prior to the arrival of the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15) in 2011 and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) in 2013, the BRP Rajah Humabon together with the three Jacinto-class patrol vessels (formerly the Royal Navy's Peacock class patrol ships) served as the backbone of the PN and acted as its flagship.

It also served a ceremonial ship welcoming arriving foreign warships in Manila Bay. BRP Rajah Humabon started life as the US Navy destroyer escort, the USS Atherton (DE-169), in 1943.

She was mostly assigned at the Atlantic theater doing patrols and anti-submarine missions.

The USS Atherton was credited of having destroyed a German U-boat, the U-853 off the coast of Rhode Island, on May 9, 1945.

She served in the Pacific theater in the middle of 1945 until she was decommissioned and placed in reserve on Dec. 10 of the same year.

The ship was later was transferred to the Japanese government as JDS Hatsuhi (DE-263) on June 14, 1955. Together with her sister ship JDS Asahi (DE-262), they became one of the first warships of the newly-organized Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

As new ships became available to the JMSDF, both ships were decommissioned and returned to the US Navy on June 1975.

Laid-up in Japan, she was transferred to the Philippine government on Sept. 13, 1976 and was sold as an Excess Defense Article on Dec. 23, 1978.She was then renamed as the RPS Rajah Humabon (PS-78), and was towed to South Korea for an extensive refit and modernization in 1979.

Article Source: Philippine News Agency

Philippine Air Force acceptance of ScanEagle UAV's and spare parts for the Sikorsky S-76A

Philippine Air Force to get US ScanEagle UAVs Tuesday

Photo of a US Marine ScanEagle UAV by Gunnery Sergeant Shannon Arledge of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing - Public Domain

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will formally accept ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) acquired from the US through foreign military financing on Tuesday.

Major Aristides M. Galang, PAF spokesperson, said the UAVs will be formally accepted, blessed, and turned over to the PAF in simple ceremonies at the 250th Presidential Airlight Wing Hangar in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City as the primary venue and the 505th Search-and-Rescue Group Hangar as alternate venue.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will be the guest of honor at the event.

Other US government officials who will attend the turnover include Sung Y. Kim, US Ambassador to the Philippines, and US Army Col. Ernest C. Lee, Chief of JUSMAG-Philippines.

The Boeing Insitu ScanEagle is a small, long-endurance, low-altitude unmanned UAV built by Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing, and is used for reconnaissance.

Article source: Philippine News Agency

Philippine Air Force looking for S-76A helicopter parts worth P9.5-M

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is setting aside PHP9.5 million for the acquisition of spare parts and services needed for the maintenance of one of its Sikorsky S-76A search-and-rescue utility helicopters.

In the bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, bid opening and submission is slated Tuesday, 9 a.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

"All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference/s, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)," PAF Bids and Awards Committee chair Brig. Gen. Erickson R. Gloria said in the above-mentioned bulletin.

The PAF is known to operate three to nine S-76A units. The aircraft has a crew of two and is capable of carrying 13 passengers. It is powered with two Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 turboshaft, 922 shp (688 kW) each, and has a maximum speed of 155 knots (178 mph/ 287 km/h).

Article Source: Philippine News Agency

Philippine Air Force FA-50PH spare parts and Philippine Army to recruit more

Philippine Air Force earmarks P15-M fund for FA-50PH jet spare parts

(File Photo) Credits to the owners of the photo

The Philippine Air Force (PAF), through its Bids and Awards Committee, is allocating the sum of PHP15,289,000 for the acquisition of spares and components needed for the maintenance of its Mach 1.5 capable FA-50PH "Fighting Eagle" jet aircraft.

The submission and opening of bids is scheduled on March 13, 9 a.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

"All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference/s, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)," PAF BAC chair Brig. Gen. Erickson Gloria said in a post at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website.

 Article source: Philippine News Agency

 Philippine Army to recruit 6,100 troops this year

The Philippine Army (PA) on Monday announced that it is opening 6,100 slots in line with efforts to strengthen its field units.

"The Army recently approved the opening of 3,600 annual regular quota and an additional 2,500 for 2018. There is now a total of 6,100 slots opened. Out of the total number of recruits, 5 percent is allocated for female recruits and another 5 percent from the indigenous peoples," PA spokesperson Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva said.

He added that additional recruits will be filling up the troop requirements for the conceptualized activation of 10 new Infantry Battalions and one Scout Ranger Battalion.

"As of today, seven out of the 10 Infantry Battalions and the Scout Ranger Battalion have already been activated. These additional Army units aim to further strengthen the Army’s capability in addressing the various threats, particularly terrorism besetting the country," Villanueva pointed out.

The recruitment is now on-going and the training will start not later than June 2018. Interested applicants may visit the Army recruitment centers located in Cagayan De Oro City, Cebu City, and Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Also, interested individuals may also browse the PA website or visit the nearest Army base in their respective localities for inquiries and other details.

Article source: Philippine News Agency