Philippine Coast Guards Fast Patrol Boats this 2018

I've chance upon today an article shared by a Facebook page named "Defense Review", contents was about the selection of OCEA to supply 4 fast patrol boats and 1 offshore patrol boats to the Philippine Coast Guard. So I was looking for the source article but it wasn't on the FB post. I tried searching online and it pointed me to an article posted January 8, 2018 at NavyRecognition.com entitled "OCEA to Supply Patrol Boats and OPV to Philippines Coast Guards".

So I said to myself, Cool! I have the source article, but something was still bugging me with the article, since I haven't encountered any news from our local media outlets regarding this purchase. So I went back to the google search results and all of the articles were from 2014, except for 1, the article was from the Diplomat dated September 13, 2017 and entitled "When will the Philippines Get its New French Vessels?"

So this project was really from 2014. According to the Diplomat, the project was formalized with a contract signing between the Department of Transportation and French shipbuilder OCEA in September 2014. The Philippines was expected to receive 5 ships - one (1) 82 meter Offshore Patrol Vessel and four (4) 24 meter fast patrol boats. It also includes a five-year preventive maintenance, spare parts for five years, and technical assistance and training for the crew.

The project moved along even with the change of administration back in 2016. Sometime around April, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade visited the OCEA shipyard in Sables d’Olonne, France to inspect the four 24-meter fast patrol boats.

Then on September 6, Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Maritime Affairs Felipe Judan and OCEA’s director of maritime safety and security, Fabrice Weinbach, signed the contract effectiveness agreement for the acquisition of the vessels. The signing was witnessed by Secretary Arthur Tugade and French Embassy representative Laurent Estrade.

The first fast patrol boat is expected to be delivered to the Philippines after eight months, with remaining ones arriving in succession after a 45-day delivery gap, and the OPV arriving up to 23 months following the signing of the contract, according to the Diplomat.

After reading the Diplomat article, I tried to look again for the source of the January 8, 2018 article that was posted in the Navy Recognition website, so I went to the OCEA SSM website which is the website for OCEA's Maritime Safety & Security. And there I found the source, the manufacturer themselves. The article was entitled "World Premier - an 84 meter OPV in Aluminum". It highlighted a portion of the project and as well as the capabilities of the ships.

FPB 72MKII

Photo from OCEA SSM website.

The 24 meter fast patrol boats model name is FPB 72MKII. OCEA already delivered a number of these to Nigeria (2) and Suriname (1). The Philippines will be its 3rd user with the most number of ships for this model.

According to the manufacturers website, the FPB 72MKII will have a speed of 20-35 knots and a range of 600NM @ 12 knots. Crew of 8 plus an additional 3 personnel. The FPB is designed to operate in territorial waters and EEZ's

OPV 270

Photo from OCEA SSM website.

The OPV 270 is an 84 meter vessel designed to patrol exclusive economic zones. It can stay on patrol for 30-45 days and has a range of 4,500-8,000NM @ 12 knots. Ship speeds will be in the 20-30 knots. Crew size of 44, plus an additional 26 personnel, and can carry another 35 survivors during rescue situations.

According to OCEA the vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2018 for the 4 FPB 72MKII and in 2019 for the OPV 270.


Can we add more OPV 270's for the coast guard? What do you think?

2 deliveries in 2018 to beef up Philippine Navy's capability

Two more platforms which will help boost the Philippine Navy (PN)'s capabilities to defend the country's vast maritime domains are expected to be delivered this 2018. This was bared by Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong when sought for an update on other deliverable items for the PN this year.

3 MPAC mk3's with Spike ER System

This has been discussed already in the AFP Modernization 2017 Highlights article.  

First among the deliverables is the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd's Spike ER (extended range) missile systems which will be fitted on three of the Navy's brand-new multi-purpose assault craft (MPAC) which was activated last May 22.

The weapons are on anti-ship mode meaning it can engage surface vessel targets and is capable of penetrating 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and has a maximum range of five miles. And while not giving the exact dates for the delivery of the missiles and its platforms for security purpose, Andolong said the weapons would be delivered to the country "very early in the first quarter of the year."

The missiles and launchers were supposed to be delivered by December but this did not materialize due to some transportation issues.

AgustaWestland AW-159 "Wildcat"

Photo from Leonardo Company

Second on the deliverables for the Philippine Navy are two brand-new AgustaWestland AW-159 "Wildcat" anti-submarine helicopters which are expected to arrive the last quarter of 2018 and early 2019, Andolong added. He did not further elaborate on what weapons and surveillance systems the AW-159s would be carrying for security reasons.

The above-mentioned helicopters will be based on the two frigates on order from Hyundai Heavy Industries. 

The AW-159 (previously called the Future Lynx and Lynx Wildcat) is an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx military helicopter. It has a crew of two, has a maximum speed of 291 km/h (181 mph), range of 777 km (483 miles), ferry range of 963 km (598 miles) and an endurance of one and a-half hours (fours hours and 30 minutes if fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank).


Original article from the Philippine News Agency