The Story of the Philippine Army's AKM Rifles

It is with full fascination to see that the Philippine Army uses a firearm that goes contrary to its usual firearms that have originated from traditional sources, as the purchase of these weapons usually come with interoperability in mind, particularly when in use in unison with allied forces and other like-minded militaries that use such firearms on their troops. This topic will cover the use of this specific firearm that has a different caliber and usage compared to the ones originated from western sources.

DISCUSSION OVERVIEW

Here is an image of an infantry trooper belonging to the Philippine Army firing a target using an AKM Assault Rifle. Image originated from First Field Artillery Battalion, Philippine Army.

In the traditional sense of how the Philippine Army comes into being, from in its inception in the late 1890s to fight for freedom against Spain and then fighting against the United States and eventually gets succumbed and comes into being once more under the commonwealth government of the mid-1930s, it will be not that surprising that the current armaments and weaponry of the land service branch primarily originates from the United States, if not the countries that adopt its weapons standardization.

This means that the modern infantry that defines the Philippines’ core military usually comes with different variations of firearms, specifically the ones that have originated from western sources such as the Remington R4 or M4-derived rifles, the iconic M-16 rifles or the ones refurbished by the Government Arsenal or GA, or the other firearms that bear some semblance or have similar caliber such as the SIG Sauer SIGM400 or the Heckler & Koch HK416, which are limited to several units.

While these western-based firearms are a mainstay for the Philippine Army’s western-oriented infantry, there are several oddities on some weapons load-out that the service branch have in its inventory, of which this comes as the primary topic in discussion for this article. This points to the organization’s existence of AKM rifles in its inventory, whereby it primarily is not of western origin and is likely from either the eastern bloc countries or even from the country that produces such weapons like Russia.

The existence of such rifles in the Philippine Army’s inventory comes at the benefit of the troops familiarizing and understanding its uses, while coming at the cost of logistics and interoperability as these rifles come with a different caliber. 

Specifically, details like this will come as this discussion proceeds along, with the quirks on different design features and technicalities permeating its understanding and operational use to the entire service branch as western-made weaponry remains as mainstream in the organization.

Aside from the quirks mentioned, the discussion on this concise topic will dwell on the misconceptions that this weapon has to the mainstream AK-47 rifle, despite sharing similar design cues and similar manufacturer, the other variant of the rifle produced by another Eastern European country, and ultimately, the specifications of this rifle plus its comparison to the other aforementioned western-originated firearms. This discussion only entails a purely educational approach and will remain limited to this area.

THE MISCONCEPTION

The difference of each Avtomat Kalashnikov Assault Rifles presented.
Image Source.

Upon checking the appearance of the rifle, average people will quickly point out that it is the iconic AK-47 rifle that the Philippine Army uses. In fact, some outlets may resort to misinformation that the service branch uses AK-47 rifles to its operation, in which this is not clearly the case. While the AK-47 rifle comes as iconic that it shares design cues with succeeding versions of the Avtomat Kalashnikova as what the abbreviation stands for, saying that it is an AK-47 is misleading to see on comprehensive defense discussions.

The AKM assault rifle counts as one of the successor variants of the original AK-47 variant, whereby the former entered active service within the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union in 1959, whereby the first design cue for the AK-47 took place in the late 1940s. 

Apparently, the primary difference between AK-47 and AKM is the use of stamped sheet metal for the receiver. This significant difference makes the AKM both lighter and less costly to produce than the machined receiver of the AK-47.

Aside from the stamped steel metal for the receiver, there are many key features that differentiate the AKM from the previous AK-47 design, such as the improved trigger/hammer unit with a hammer release delay device, the redesigned, slightly raised buttstock and the pistol grip, and the addition of the removable muzzle flip compensator. These features, aside from an improved rear sight, incorporate the first improvements in the iconic Avtomat Kalashnikova design that come as a continuing trend in the following decades.

As an improved variant of the AK-47, the Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy, or Kalashnikov Rifle - Modernized as this name stands, the introduced improvements on the Soviet-era assault rifle enable it to differentiate to the earlier version of the Kalashnikov Assault Rifle. 

Like the succeeding versions of this assault rifle, such as the AK-74 and later, the AKM comes as a rifle variant of its own right and is not the AK-47 rifle that average people know for, despite having almost similar design cues.

Now that this misconception comes clearer in differentiating the two Soviet-era firearms, the next sub-topic deals more with the once-blooming relations between the Philippines and Russia that have enabled the former into securing this type of firearm in the first place, more than half a decade before the latter’s adventurous attitude in Eastern Europe received the ire of the international community, as sanctions have imposed against the country as the result of an ongoing conflict in their invasion of Ukraine.

THE DONATION

Here is an image of Philippine Army personnel shooting AKM assault rifles in a group.
Image originated from First Field Artillery Battalion, Philippine Army.

The Philippine Army’s way of gaining AKM rifles comes with some diplomatic essence with it, as it resulted from what was once superb and friendly relations between two countries, at least five (5) years before the conflict that eventually closed down the donor’s access to the world, and even before that, the time when the idea of penalizing countries that purchase military hardware from this specific country of origin spouts into mind. This story comes with a visit to an iconic frigate from this country’s Pacific Fleet.

It was 2017, and relations were at an all-time high between the Philippines and countries like China and Russia, as then-Duterte administration fostered an idea of Independent Foreign Policy, a stance that comes differently from just sticking into traditional alliances like the United States - of which this gets reversed later on under the current Marcos administration by the time this article has published. This period of warm relations bears fruit that a donor like Russia provided the Philippine military with some military hardware.

The materials, tools, and military hardware that a country like Russia donated during this friendly period comes with several notable examples, such as the SSH-68 steel helmets that are in use by Philippine Army personnel during training, Ural 4320 cargo logistics trucks for hauling of both personnel and military hardware, and, of course, the AKM assault rifle that many average people mistaken it as the AK-47 assault rifle given the similarity in the design cues.

Going into the details, the equipment donation as the result of what was then the ever-warming ties between Russia and the Philippines results to the latter receiving 20 Ural 4320 cargo logistics trucks, 5,000 units of AKMs, even though the Philippine News Agency reports it as AK-74M, 1 million rounds of 7.62mm steel core bullets, and 5,000 units of SSH-68 steel helmets that matches the number of AKM assault rifles presented. This is the only instance that Russia provided that donation.

In comparison, the Philippine Army’s acquisition of the Taurus T4 Assault Rifles from Brazil comes at around 12,000 units of this 5.56 caliber firearm derived from the United States M4 rifle, which is not surprising as this is the mainstream rifle that the Philippine Armed Forces use in combat. 

This means that while it is a welcoming addition to have AKM assault rifles donated from an Eastern European country, the Philippine Armed Forces have preferences on western armaments and its NATO-standard features.

SPECIFICATIONS AND VARIANTS

Here are some features and setups that differentiate the AKM to other variants.
From Small Arms Survey factsheet.

The following information that is about to provide here will encompass the fully technical details of the AKM assault rifle, along with insights and comparisons of this firearm to other platforms currently in use by the Philippine Army, particularly its western-made ones. 

Discussions of the sub-variants of this assault rifle will get some brief discussion, as delving into this portion gives additional details on the improvements that have come since the entry of the AKM into service within the Eastern Bloc.

Going to the specific technical dimensions, features, and other essential information of the AKM assault rifle, it comes with the following details, such as having a 7.62 x 39mm M1943 gun caliber, 896mm long fixed stock, 907mm long extended folding stock, 657mm long folded folding stock, 3.06kg weight for the AKM when unloaded, 436mm barrel length, 30-round detachable box magazine, post, adjustable fore sight and U-notch tangent rear sight, and a 600 rounds per minute rate of fire.

The following specifications provided comes from this document from Small Arms Survey, a reputable outlet that provides comprehensive information regarding the technical information, specifically for firearms of different builds and variants such as the AKM assault rifles for this discussion. Apparently, the information it provides also includes several sub-variants of the AKM assault rifle, of which different arms producers in the  Eastern Block have features that are specific to a production line different from Soviet ones.

There are at least twelve (12) different sub-variants of the AKM assault rifle, of which it ranges from different arms manufacturers of the eastern-aligned countries. These are the AKM, Russia, AKMS, Russia, Type 56 (later), China, Type 56-1 (later), China, Type 56-2, China, Misr, Egypt, MPiKM, Germany (GDR), Tabuk, Iraq, Type 68, North Korea, PMKM, Poland, RomArm AKM, Romania, and M70, Serbia. Each weapon sub-variants have its respective unique design features, but with shared commonalities for spares.

With the prevalence of this firearm design originating from the AK-47 to the succeeding designs such as the AKM, it gives precedent to another purchase of the Philippine Army to another design similar to the iconic AK family of assault rifles that have originated from what was then friendly relations to Russia, whereby it provides an opportunity for the service branch to buy another firearm that shares features with this design, this time originated from the country of Bulgaria.

BULGARIA'S AR-M RIFLE

Here is an image of personnel belonging to the Philippine Army checking the AR-M52F Assault Rifle.
Philippine Army photo.

Aside from the AKM Rifles that the Philippine Army received from the grants provided by the then-friendly Russian government of the previous administration, this service branch also comes purchasing the different type of rifle that shares attributes to the Soviet-era rifle, although the orders have originated to another East European country that is also a current member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO. This country refers to the Balkan country of Bulgaria.

This rifle made in Bulgaria is the AR-M1 rifle, specifically the AR-M52F 7.62×39mm rifle variant made by Arsenal JSCo for the Philippine Army’s additional requirements, along with an order of 1,000,000 rounds of 7.62x39mm rifle ammunition originating from this specific Bulgarian-based arms manufacturer. 

Apparently, the Bulgarian manufacturer also produces the 5.56x39mm variant of the assault rifle, although the 7.62x39mm variant gets chosen with the compatibility with the AKM rifles as reference.

The production of the AR-M1 rifles by a Bulgarian arms manufacturing firm come because of the country’s continuous production of firearms, going way back 1960s when it was still part of the Soviet-dominated Warsaw Pact, an Eastern European bloc of nations that shares the communist form of economy and government with the one ruled in Moscow. It started when the Bulgarians started locally producing its own AK-47 rifles, which then exported to other members of the bloc.

Bulgaria’s long experience in producing license copies of the iconic Kalashnikov rifle enables them to produce better designs such as the AR-M1 rifle, whereby like the Soviet era rifle that comes before it, is also in operation and active use by multiple militaries across the globe, including the Philippine Army, the Indonesian Armed Forces through the Tontaipur (Army Special Forces), and the United Kingdom for training-related purposes intended for the Ukrainian forces under the Operation Interflex.

Ultimately, the purchase of Bulgarian-made assault rifles and ammunition provided an additional lifeline to the donated AKM assault rifles, especially given the current sanctions that Russia faces as the result of their invasion of Ukraine. 

Also, Bulgaria’s current membership within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization gives it additional points for the Philippine Army to consider its firearms at that period, expanding the need for rifles that can fire 7.62x39mm ammunition rounds.

TO SUM IT UP AND ENDING NOTE

Philippine Army personnel usually use M4 assault rifles on its operations, having commonality with allies like the United States and other like-minded nations.
Image Source.

In a military that usually comes with western-based military equipment like the Philippine Army, it is already an oddity itself that this service branch of the Philippine Armed Forces maintains an assault rifle that comes with a caliber that comes differently from the ones it already have. And this difference comes because of what was then an improvement of ties between two countries, at a period when conflict in Eastern Europe isn’t that escalated as compared to the present day.

The resources provided for what became the Philippine Army’s own stash of AKM assault rifles and additional ammunition often come misrepresented by others as the iconic AK-47 assault rifle, of which both firearms share similar attributes although the AKM comes as a far more modernized variant of the Kalashnikov family of firearms compared to its AK-47 predecessor, making it fully different to the variant that is iconic and widely known to the average people regarding Soviet-based firearms.

While the Soviets primarily did the AKM assault rifle, it actually has different design cues that produced by other arms manufacturers across the Eastern bloc, making it as widely produced for an assault rifle as the other ones belonging to the Kalashnikov family. To take it further, it is here that the Bulgarian arms manufacturer Arsenal JSCo takes knowledge for them to develop, produce, and introduce the modern AR-M1 assault rifle that the Philippine Army uses alongside the AKM assault rifles.

Despite getting such type of weapons bearing the 7.62x39mm ammunition rounds and originates from now rogue countries like Russia, the Philippine Army still sticks to NATO-standard assault rifles like the Remington M4 assault rifles, as it goes with commonality not only between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other uniformed agencies that uses this firearm, but also with allied countries like the United States and like-minded nations that promotes interoperability between units and forces alike.

Ultimately, it is fascinating to see the Philippine Army maintaining differing variants and types of firearms in its arsenal of infantry-based weaponry, whereby both serve its purpose of giving field troops the firepower needed in various mission objectives that comes under the name of national security and sovereign integrity of the nation. These, in which, give the Philippine Army additional tools to uphold its mandate like the rest of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to protect and uphold the country’s defense and interest.

(c) 2024 PDA.

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Philippine Army's Interest in Getting Indian ATAGS 155mm Towed Howitzer

Artillery pieces come as an essential component in fielding a land-based army, of which it coincides with platoons of infantry and armor that carry out an objective specific to each unit mentioned. For the personnel that is assigned to artillery units, this means carrying out a purpose of targeting and pulverizing enemy positions with guidance from frontline troops through an encrypted communication channel.

For the Philippine Army, it aspires additional towed howitzer to carry out its core mandate, aside from its successful use of self-propelled howitzer platforms like the ATMOS 2000 from Elbit Systems and its plans of acquisition of both rocket artillery and coast-based anti-ship missile systems as the entire armed forces shifts to external defense.

DISCUSSION OVERVIEW

India’s ATAGS 155mm howitzer deployed in position during an exercise.
Image Source.

Bilateral relations between countries usually involve matters relating to trade, tourism,  and better terms that bring benefit to the citizens of both countries that undertook a formal diplomatic approach, of which this can broaden more into matters related to national security and enhanced defense cooperation especially if both countries belong in the same region. This can get an extra mile for both countries that are like-minded and share a similar stance on security and principles like the one surrounding democracy.

This is exactly what happened to the bilateral relations between the Philippines and India in the recent visit made by the latter’s foreign minister to Manila in March 2024, whereby the Foreign Minister conveyed India’s support on the Philippines’ national sovereignty against an ever-assertive China, as both countries share common concerns regarding the red country’s territorial assertiveness, which is the West Philippine Sea for the Philippines and both the Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh for India.

At the backdrop of all current developments involving the ever-increasing diplomatic ties and cooperation between the Philippines and India that include matters regarding national defense, the former is actively seeking military hardware that actively in production in the latter’s military industrial facilities, of which this points to the Philippine Army’s full interest in getting the ATAGS 155mm towed artillery gun. The artillery pieces share almost the same 155mm caliber with the ATMOS 2000 SLPH that the Philippine Army has.

This interest comes as the Philippine Army desires to increase its involvement in the national government’s policy push into external defense posture, as the ideal supplementary requirement that the ATAGS 155mm towed artillery pieces can help augment the needed tools for shore-based defense application. While this is an interesting push, the preference of the land service branch of the Philippine Armed Forces primarily focuses more on both shore-based missiles and rocket artillery for this initiative.

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND), in context, is pushing for the approach for external defense called as the ‘Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept’ or CADC, whereby its primary focus is on the Philippine military and other relevant agencies plus instrumentalities to gear up into bringing additional capabilities intended for the country’s territorial defense, push through the Re-Horizon 3 phase. The Philippine Army’s push for coastline missile platforms and artillery is in line with this initiative.

Aside from the ATAGS 155mm towed artillery pieces, the Indian government has provided the Armed Forces of the Philippines some military hardware that really helps push the current initiative of the government for territorial defense posture, with the BrahMos anti-ship missiles being the highlight acquisition project that is a starting signal of the increased cooperation for both countries regarding national defense. In context, the Philippine Marine Corps expects to receive it in the year 2024.

With the increasing bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and India comes in the spotlight, this article will delve more into the military hardware itself, with the details coming into the classic approach the website discusses, with understanding and faring the platform’s specifications to the other ones that the Philippine Army operates being the primary aim, with development history and company background comes as additional information into this comprehensive entry.

DEVELOPMENT ORIGINS

The 155mm ATAGS howitzer cannon is in position.
Image Source.

The ATAGS 155mm howitzer system, or Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems as it stands for, comes as an indigenously developed and produced a system that is part of the Indian government’s desire to produce its own military hardware in line with their policy initiative called “Make in India”, enabling the country to become a manufacturing hub of varying products for both internal usage and export. In terms of military hardware, this means enabling the country to export and gain a foothold in the global defense market.

India’s development of various military hardware, like the BrahMos missile systems, the Akash air defense missile system, and the ATAGS 155mm howitzer system are under the management of India’s DRDO or the Defence Research and Development Organisation. 

For the Indian-made howitzer system, DRDO made its partnership with a local Indian firm named Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and Bharat Forge Ltd, intended to modernize the artillery units within the Indian Armed Forces.

The development of the ATAGS 155mm howitzer by the Indians started in the early 2000s, whereby the Indian military took initiative into modernizing its armed forces, specifically the re-fleeting and reorganization of its artillery units. The Indian Army, based on their fully ambitious Field Artillery Rationalization Plan or FARP, aims to purchase at least 1,580 units of 155mm towed artillery gun systems, aside from other artillery of various configurations such as self-propelled ones, and calibers aside from the 155mm variant.

DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment or ARDE division started the needed feasibility study and other preparation for the eventual design development of the ATAGS 155mm towed artillery gun system in the year 2009, of which it continued along the year 2012 when the overall development and design mission module of the project gets sanctioned to the ARDE. Further development carried out by the two aforementioned local Indian firms, in a partnership setup.

First firing tests took place in the year 2022, whereby the activity took place in the Pokhran Field Firing Range in a trial procedure, as part of the steps needed in ensuring the product’s compliance to the safety and end-user requirements before entering serial production and eventually entering the Indian Army service once the orders booked in. Initially, the Indian Army ordered at least 307 155mm ATAGS towed artillery gun pieces, after continuous development that came from 2013 to 2017.

Speaking of the phase of design development, while the feasibility and other preparations for the design development started in 2009, it is actually between 2013 and 2017 where design development gets actively materialized by the two local Indian firms that put extensive work into the project, again being the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and Bharat Forge Ltd. Each of the components of the ATAGS 155mm towed artillery gun system comes at each responsibility of a firm, like Bharat Forge’s development of the gun barrel.

As the development and production of the ATAGS 155mm towed, artillery platforms will go with the two aforementioned Indian firms to supply the requirements set by the Indian Army and eventually to boost export prospects as part of the country’s “Make in India” initiative by actively marketing the artillery pieces to countries like the Philippines, the next discussion point delves more with the basic background of the two companies involved, and how this project cements their reputation as arms exporter later on.

THE COMPANIES’ BACKGROUND

The website screenshot of Tata Advanced Systems, one of two Indian firms that produces the ADAGS 155mm.
Website link here.

For the development of this project regarding the modernized variant of the Indian ATAGS 155mm howitzer system, it has identified that there are at least three (3) entities involved in the organization and improvement of the platform, of which it includes India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation. 

With the Indian premier research and development agency already covered in a separate article on the other offer that India has to the Philippine military, this portion will talk more about the two other firms involved.

The first among the two Indian firms involved is the Tata Advanced Systems Limited., as described on its website, that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons and is the strategic Aerospace and Defense arm of the Tata Group. TASL, as abbreviated, is an entity that is both an operating and a holding company. The Tata Group, in its entirety, is a well-known Indian firm that comes as an essential value-creation entity that generates a portion of the Indian economy.

In context, the Tata Group has subsidiaries that, aside from the already-mentioned Tata Advanced Systems Limited, also owns Tata Motors, of which it produces vehicles of multiple types from passenger cars to trucks and buses that caters to the needs of the Indian automobile market. 

Another entity that Tata owns is India’s own flag carrier Air India, of which it has privatized from what was once a state-owned company after a successful sale made in 2021 and a year-long transition process that has followed.

Aside from the ATAGS 155mm artillery system produced by this Indian firm, Tata Advanced Systems Limited also produces the Akash Ground-based Air Defense System of that the Indian government has already presented its offer to the Philippine Navy’s Shore-based Air Defense Systems Acquisition Project, the ‘Pinaka’ multiple-launch rocket launcher that is an Indian-made MLRS similar to the ones offered to the Philippine Army’s Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems project, and C4I systems suites and solutions.

Another Indian firm to mention that provides a significant contribution to the development and production of the ATAGS 155mm howitzer system is the Bharat Forge, whereby like Tata Advanced Systems Limited, is also the one that provides multiple defense and security solutions that adheres to the requirements set by the Indian military. The company’s subsidiary that has the responsibility for defense development and solutions is the Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd or KSSL.

As Tata Advanced Systems Limited belonging to the larger umbrella of the Tata Group, Bharat Forge in itself is an entity that oversees its diversified business chains, whereby its products include essential subcomponents for power companies to ensure uninterrupted power supply that forwards a country’s economy, essential subcomponents for drilling and extracting oil and gas that caters to the needs of businesses centered into this business, and auto components that the likes of Tata Motors benefited.

Both companies serve as a primary workhorse in India’s manufacturing industry‌, with Tata Group comes with multiple conglomerates that include Tata Advanced Systems Limited, which oversee production of military hardware for Indian military requirements that are proudly made in India, while Bharat Forge deals primarily in producing steel-forged subcomponents that comes essential for the needs of different industries mentioned, aside from providing essential subcomponents for the ATAGS 155mm howitzer. 

SPECIFICATIONS

The specific caliber of the ATAGS howitzer is 155mm x 52 caliber.
Image Source.

The specifications of the Indian ATAGS 155mm howitzer system provide a fully comprehensive view regarding its capabilities, especially when taken side by side to another type of howitzer artillery piece that the Philippine Army currently possesses in its inventory. 

At its overview, the primary giveaway regarding its capabilities is that it can fire a 155mm caliber artillery shell, a NATO standard artillery round that comes according to the NATO Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding.

Aside from the ATAGS 155mm howitzer, other artillery platforms within the Philippine Army that employ the 155mm caliber artillery shell are the Elbit Soltam M71 155mm towed howitzer artillery system, the United States-produced M114 155mm artillery platform, and the Elbit ATMOS 2000 self-propelled howitzer system. 

These units are usually in complement with the service branch’s other artillery platforms that employ the 105mm artillery shell, notably the M101, M102, and M3 artillery that came from the United States.

Other technical specifications and features found within this Indian-made howitzer artillery system include an Automatic Ammunition Handling System (AHS), Zero Backlash Electrical drives - Electric gun system, Zone 7 charge fire ability, 80 kilometers per hour maximum speed upon towing mode, an elevation of 5° to 75° with the speed of 5°/sec, and traverse of 30° right and left. 

This means that it has features meant to ensure constant reliability and assured performance of the platform in terms of accuracy, precision, and firepower.

Talking about the dimensions of the platform, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) 155mm caliber howitzer system has the mass of 18 long tons and 20 short tons, barrel length of 8060mm for the 155mm artillery shell to propel into its intended target, and requires at least six (6) to eight (8) personnel to man and operate the artillery platform. In terms of its firepower, the platform comes with a rate of fire of 5 rounds burst in 60 seconds, 10 rounds intense in 2 minutes and 30 seconds, and 60 rounds sustained in an hour (60 minutes).

In comparison, the Elbit Soltam M71 155mm caliber howitzer system comes with an elevation of -3° to +52° and a traverse of -+35° left and right. Another thing to point out is the difference on the caliber and the length of the gun barrel, as the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System of India comes with 52 caliber while the Soltam M71 comes with 39 caliber, making the former more capable of firing an artillery shell at longer distances because of having a longer barrel and larger chamber as compared to the Israeli-made towed artillery platform currently serving in the Philippine Army.

Another comparison to point out is the difference of the Indian-produced howitzer platform to the iconic M114 155mm howitzer from the United States, as this Second World War-era artillery still serves the Philippine Army, even though it sees eventual replacement with newer versions of 155mm artillery aforementioned in the article. 

The artillery’s barrel is shorter at 3.79m, capable of firing 155mm L/24.5 caliber munitions and it has a fire rate of 4 rates per minute maximum, 40 sustained rounds per hour, and a range of 14.6 kilometers maximum.

In the entirety, the Indian Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System or ATAGS 155mm howitzer platform presents as the one that can fire a caliber higher than the two other towed howitzers mentioned, especially that it comes with a longer barrel that gives it increased range and precision for the artillery shell to reach its target. 

As the Indian Army sets to receive its first orders of their indigenously built platform and countries like Armenia eyeing it, the platform offer to the Philippine Army may get a bit of traction, depending if it adheres to the end-user’s requirements.

IN SUMMARY

The Philippine Army has a handful of Soltam M-71 howitzers in its inventory.
Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The Philippines and India have seen recent developments regarding the ever-increasing vibrance of its bilateral relations, so much in an essence that both countries share similar concerns relating to the ongoing aggressions and assertiveness that a neighboring country like China comes in territorial spats. whereby economic and defense or national security ties get strengthened. It adds further that the latter succeedingly exports the former its BrahMos supersonic missile system for the Philippine Marine Corps. 

Aside from the BrahMos, the Indian government provides many military hardware that the Philippine Armed Forces and other agencies, such as the Philippine Coast Guard, may consider. Such systems include the Akash ground air defense system for the Philippine Navy’s shore-based air defense system, HAL Dhruv Helicopters and Dornier 228 aircraft for the Philippine Coast Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft requirements, and the main topic, which is the ATAGS 155mm howitzer platforms for the Philippine Army. 

With the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines being with the national government’s push for improving the country’s capability for territorial defense as part of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept or CADC of the Department of National Defense, it is understandable for a like-minded country like India to take part in any of the acquisition projects that the Philippine military has under the Re-Horizon 3 phase, as any contract awards secure means a lot for their Make in India's export initiatives.

The ATAGS 155mm howitzer platform comes as a latest deal offer from the Indian government, whereby others like the LCH Prachand attack helicopters and HAL Tejas fighter aircraft also come as offers that they have for the Philippine military to consider, although it remains to see as equivalent units for the mentioned platforms already comes within the inventory of the likes of the Philippine Air Force, such as the T-129 ‘ATAK’ Attack Helicopter from Turkey, and the preferred platforms under the MRF project.

To recall, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System or ATAGS comes with a caliber and barrel length that differs from other platforms that the Philippine Army has, such as the Elbit Soltam M71 howitzer, as these factors play a significant role to the overall capabilities of the howitzer platform regarding its firepower, of which the accuracy and precision of an artillery shell fired plays a role in carrying out its functions as designed that determines an overall outcome of the conflict.

Artillery platforms such as the ATAGS 155mm howitzer comes as an essential component for the coastal defense of the Philippine military, as this complements other artillery types such as guided missile systems and rocket artillery, whereby it comes with the deterrence of providing maximum damage to enemy vessels and amphibious platforms that might pose a direct threat to the country’s national security and territorial integrity. These, in which, give the Philippine Army an active role for territorial defense.

In an ending note, the Indian government presents the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System or ATAGS 155mm as a military hardware option that the Philippine Army considers, although it is at the leadership’s discretion whether this platform comes appropriately to the requirements and plans that the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines have with its overall approach. With this platform in consideration, it signifies the country’s desire to invest in its defense, while improving ties with like-minded nations.

(c) 2024 PDA.

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Philippine Army's PULS MLRS Offer from Elbit Systems

Getting its own Multiple-Launch Rocket System or MLRS from multiple sources is a paramount priority for the Philippine Army like its other projects under the Revised AFP Modernization Program, as this acquisition comes primarily for coastal defense that comes as a complement to the shore-based artillery and other guided missile systems that are in the implementing stage such as the Indian-made BrahMos missiles. 

The Israeli-based defense firm is keen on securing this acquisition project.

INTRODUCTION

Elbit Systems's PULS MLRS moving for deployment.
Image Source.

The Philippine Army is desiring to play a part in an ever-increasing military build-up through the Re-Horizon 3 phase, a process that usually prioritizes up-arming and improving the capabilities of both the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Navy. 

This means that the priority projects of the Armed Forces of the Philippines usually come with multirole fighter jets and surface warships with complete armaments in mind, aligning to the concept of projecting the country’s military power in areas that it needs.

Despite being in the rear in terms of priority under this phase, especially now that external defense posture is in need and the Philippines being an archipelagic country, this does not stop the Philippine Army to set its own array of plans and programs under this revised phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program or R.A. 10349. 

Both this service branch and their peers in the Philippine Marine Corps highlighted the need for ramping up coastline defenses, ranging from air defense systems to artillery platforms.

Currently, the Philippine Marine Corps are about to field their BrahMos supersonic missile systems from India, the same coast-based missile systems that the Philippine Army also aims to get under the Land-based Missile System of the organization. 

Likewise, the land service branch also set its eyes on acquiring MLRS or Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems, whereby its use as a coastal-based defense platform may come with bombardment saturation in mind, different from direct surgical precision that BrahMos missiles perform.

With the acquisition plans for supersonic missiles on the roll, the idea of getting MLRS as another type of coastal defense option gives the Philippine defense planners a wide range of options to further improve its external defense capabilities, whereby these units operate in sync or in unison with their counterparts that operate on high seas or in high altitudes within the country’s airspace. A capability of an MLRS battery showcases itself against waves of amphibious vessels that attempt to invade the country’s coastline.

Currently, the discussions on the Multiple-Launch Rocket System or MLRS for the Philippine Army usually come with three types of platforms to consider - the M142 HIMARS MLRS from the United States of America, the K239 Chunmoo MLRS from South Korea, and the Elbit PULS MLRS from Israel. 

The first MLRS platform mentioned has showcased its capability multiple times before the Philippine Armed Forces participants during the annual Balikatan exercises held by the alliance.

With the capability of the M-142 HIMARS MLRS captivated the minds of those participants during the annual bilateral exercises between the Philippines and the United States, the former is enthusiastically interested in securing such a platform and integrate it into its currently expanding array of interconnecting system that will define its external defense bottom-line. 

While this platform is capable, its price tag may limit the country’s options to getting this platform into the desired numbers required, given the limited funding.

This is where both the K239 Chunmoo MLRS from South Korea and the Elbit PULS MLRS attempts to fill in the void, whereby the former already has a discussion of its own by accessing this link right here. 

This leaves the Elbit PULS MLRS as the primary topic for discussion in this article, and by understanding it deeper, there will be an analytical conversation regarding the system, from its development history into its operations with different militaries, plus its specifications and comparison to the other systems mentioned.

HISTORY

Like the Rafael System’s Spyder Ground-Based Air Defense Systems of the Philippine Air Force, the Elbit PULS MLRS also comes installed onboard different truck chassis, just like this Czech Tatra truck in this image.
(c) Elbit, through this Image Source.

As discussed through many multiple-launch rocket system related topics made here on this website, the Elbit Systems PULS MLRS platform has an origin story, a concept and development process that has done by a lot of military tools and hardware that permeates to the stage when this comes as an idea, until it became a prototype for testing. 

Hereon, the prototype succeedingly passed development requirements, enabling it to enter active service, usually with the country of origin where the platform has developed.

Before the multiple-launch rocket system unit became the Elbit Systems PULS MLRS known today among the defense community in its present state, the system, during its phase of development and testing, came to be recognizable through a different name, which is the Lynx MLRS platform developed by a different entity named as the ‘Israel Military Industries’ or IMI. This entity and the projects it had, such as the Lynx MLRS, have integrated into Elbit Systems through the company’s acquisition of IMI in 2018.

There are no specifics on how the Lynx MLRS came into fruition, although several information coming from several defense outlets traced its entry to service at around mid-2000s, with Israel and Azerbaijan being its first users. Apparently, the only description provided for the Lynx MLRS is that Azerbaijan has purchased several of this type of Multiple-Launch Rocket System, with modifications introduced by the Israeli defense firm to suit Azerbaijani armed forces’ own requirements.

Going further, the Lynx MLRS comes with varying configurations, of which, at its current service, with the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, comes installed onboard Kamaz-740 50.360 diesel trucks that have originated from a Russian defense company of a similar name. 

Apparently, the rocket launchers can get installed into any type of truck that comes applicable to the recipient country, in a manner that goes similarly to how Rafael Systems’ Spyder Ground-Based Air Defense System fits on different truck chassis.

As the Lynx and eventually the PULS MLRS gets preferred by several armed forces when assessing the preferable option for such an artillery system like in the Philippine military’s case, substantiated discussions regarding its armament composition and delving deep into the different configurations provide further insights on the capabilities possess by this weaponry. 

The details then will come compared to other MLRS platforms already discussed previously, such as the K239 Chunmoo and the M142 HIMARS MLRS solutions.

LOADOUT CONFIGURATION AND SPECIFICATIONS

The different weapons configuration as shown in the image provided above, all of which are MLRS assets used by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
Image Source.

Like both the M142 HIMARS and the K239 Chunmoo Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems or MLRS, the Elbit PULS or Precise and Universal Launching System comes with multiple load-out configuration, which depends to the firepower requirements and mission objectives that the military end-user desires to have that have a lasting effect on its destruction when aimed against enemy units. Also, it puts the type of targets into consideration for an appropriate utilization of differing rocket systems.

The Elbit PULS multiple-launch rocket system incorporates two specialized PODS, each tailored for a specific type of rocket used for the applicable mission that the end-user aspires to conduct and achieve. 

This means that the PULS MLRS has the capability of carrying eighteen (18) Accular 122mm rockets, ten (10) Accular 160mm rockets, four (4) EXTRA rockets, and two (2) Predator Hawk Rockets. Take note that this comes differently to the munitions used by two other aforementioned MLRS systems.

Similarly to the PULS MLRS platforms, the Accular rockets mentioned also count as munitions produced by Elbit Systems Land Ltd., in which the manufacturer markets it as the highly accurate, combat-proven guided rocket system that helps improve artillery performance of the PULS, aside from being as a capable munitions mechanism designed to provide artillery support for ground troops in eliminating desirable targets after getting launched from this specific multiple-launch rocket system.

Specifically, different sizes of Accular rockets came with different ranges of capabilities presented. For the Accular 122mm rocket munitions system, its capabilities comprise with its range coming at around 35-40 kilometers carrying a 20-kilogram warhead, in which it can fit more onboard a PULS MLRS platform compared to the larger Accular 160 rocket munitions system. The latter munition comes with a similar range of 40 kilometers while carrying a 35-kilogram warhead, 15 kilograms more than the former.

Now, regarding the specifications of an Elbit Systems Land PULS multiple-launch rocket system, it comes intertwined again with the MLRS design it derived earlier, which is the IMI Lynx MLRS. 

In terms of its dimensions, the Lynx MLRS comes with a weight of twenty-five (25) tons, length of nine (9) meters, width of two point five (2.5) meters, and height of three (3) meters. The mobility of the platforms depends on the trucks that come with the platforms provided with the MLRS units provided.

Finally, another rocket munitions feature that typically comes with the PULS MLRS platforms is the ones called the EXTRA long-range, high-precision rocket munition that has the range of 150 kilometers and equipped with 120 kilogram unitary warhead, which either be the control fragmentation variant or the penetration variant. 

Elbit markets this as a munition appropriate to use in urban settings, as the supersonic rocket has critical infrastructure targets in mind - from command centers to transportation hubs.

The different rocket load-out that the Elbit PULS MLRS comes with provides a wide variety of options in fully optimizing its capabilities in different military, strategic, and operational requirements, enabling an end-user like the Philippine Army to use this feature to its advantage. 

It also comes with a superb capability of getting transportable by aircraft like C-130, of which this ability gets mentioned again upon initiating the comparison between three (3) MLRS platforms that the service branch currently considers.

COMPARISON

Both the K239 Chunmoo and the M142 HIMARS are under consideration by the Philippine Army for its MLRS project.
Image Source.

One essential component to determine the capabilities Elbit Systems Land’s PULS MLRS has in offering to the Philippine Army is to provide a metric that gives it direct comparison to the other units offered by other willing suppliers for the Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems or MLRS program, specifically the competitors such as the South Korean K239 Chunmoo and the U.S. M142 HIMARS MLRS. Like the PULS, the latter two MLRS units came with different weapons' load-out options for various mission requirements.

Speaking of weapons’ load-out options, the Accular 122mm and 160mm rocket systems come smaller to the average 227mm rocket rounds that both the K239 Chunmoo and the M142 HIMARS MLRS usually comes with, although it comes at part with the 130mm rocket load-out that the older K136 Kooryong MLRS uses and also eventually integrated as part of the K239 Chunmoo rocket options. This means that both HIMARS and Chunmoo MLRS systems came with heavier munitions with larger warheads.

One key advantage of the PULS MLRS to the likes of M142 HIMARS is that the former can get installed on the truck platform of choice that varies to each country and its militaries that purchase the rocket artillery pieces, whereas the M142 HIMARS always come with the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 5-ton truck as its mobility platform. The Chunmoo MLRS so far can fit on both the default South Korean-built truck chassis or, with Poland, the Jelcz 8x8 truck chassis for its Chunmoo (Homar-K) MLRS platforms.

Ultimately, the EXTRA long-range, high-precision rocket munition comes at 306mm sized caliber, with a range that is less than the Lockheed Martin ATACMS that the M142 HIMARS can carry at least one missile munition. In context, the Elbit PULS can carry at least four (4) rocket munitions of the EXTRA system. 

A better munition to compare the ATACMS is the Predator Hawk, of which it similarly comes with that 300 km range and 140-kilograms unitary warhead. The PULS can carry at least two munitions of this type.

The missile that South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo that competes in this field is the 600mm KTSSM-1 or the Korea Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile, whereby its primary design is to neutralize North Korea’s artillery capabilities, although it comes lesser in range compared to the MGM-142 ATACMS and the Predator Hawk, yet it packs similar firepower as the former at an affordable price. 

The presented comparisons provided an insight of each advantage and disadvantages that each MLRS platform has for the Philippine Army to check and consider.

IN SUMMARY

Here is an image of a PULS MLRS platform unleashing a rocket in a trial exercise.
From Wikimedia Commons.

The Philippine Army pursues the acquisition of multiple-launch rocket systems or MLRS, as the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines, together with the Department of National Defense, gears itself into fortifying and solidifying the country’s territorial defense capabilities. 

This comes as the entire defense establishment’s adaptation of the new posture entitled ‘Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept’ or CADC, with coastal defense being one of the essential components of this strategic shift.

This new defense concept developed by the country’s national defense department shows the grave significance of taking the country’s overall external defense situation into account, that the full modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines take center stage, alongside capabilities-related developments of both the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, as all mentioned government instrumentalities play a vital role in asserting its national interest in the country’s EEZ.

As the acquisition projects of the Revised AFP Modernization Program being in its materialization phase under the Re-Horizon 3 period of the entire program, the Philippine Army is keen on securing its own set of military hardware geared for external defense, giving primary emphasis on both coastal-oriented defense systems of both rocket artillery and guided anti-ship missile platforms. As for the former, a close fight ensues between three MLRS platforms that the service branch sees into consideration.

The competition on the MLRS Acquisition Project, along with previous projects that Elbit Systems have with the Philippine Army, especially with its recent acquisition projects delivered like the Sabrah Light Tank of both ASCOD 2 and Pandur 2 chassis, plus the VBTP-MR Guarani 6x6 Armored Personnel Carriers gave the Israeli defense manufacturer the incentive to take part in this project, with their platform offered being the PULS multiple-launch rocket system, formerly being the IMI Lynx MLRS.

Like the other competitors in the MLRS project, the PULS MLRS presented by Elbit Systems comes with its own array of advantages and disadvantages for the Philippine Army to consider, especially if it fits with its primary metric, which is with the service branch’s own basic and advanced requirements that its leadership looks for a multiple-launch rocket system platform. Both the Accular and EXTRA rocket systems that came with the PULS presented come as capable munitions of its own right.

With the competition being a three-way street between the M142 HIMARS, K239 Chunmoo, and the Elbit PULS MLRS with the emphasis on competition being on the latter two multiple-launch rocket system solutions, the entire MLRS acquisition project comes as an ideal bet that not only helps the Philippine Army improve its rocket artillery capabilities after it discontinued its acquisition of K136 Kooryong MLRS from South Korea, but also in augmenting coastal missile systems such as the BrahMos missiles from India.

Ultimately, the awarding of the contract for the winning bidder of this MLRS project presents an opportunity for defense companies like Elbit to cement its foothold further within the Philippine defense market, especially that their delivery of light tank units and armored personnel carriers of both upgrade and new units in nature increase their good reputation as weapons supplier for the Philippine Armed Forces. And a victory on this project gives that affirmation even further.

(c) 2024 PDA.

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