The Idea of having AGM-84 Harpoon Missiles in the Philippine Air Force

The Philippine Air Force is in the process of having more sophisticated weaponry with several of those platforms already been discussed in detail on this blog website. Moreover, it is notable that the discussions of last year may get it interesting by this year as we entered the third year of the Horizon 2 spanning 2018-2022 wherein several projects may come with some additional packages which may go as part of this discussion.

Pitz Defense Analysis Note: From this year on, there may be variations to how articles will be made on this blog website as we keep on improving on the way we provide information for readers like you to make it more convenient as possible. So, it will be a bit unconventional in terms of getting the details across as substance goes over form which may make our articles a bit shorter.

DISCUSSION OVERVIEW

An AGM-84 Harpoon Missile fitted onboard a U.S. Navy F-18 aircraft.
Image Source.

The discussion of having an anti-ship missile munition goes as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) goes on in improving its capabilities as part of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program or RAFPMP based from R.A. 10349 where it goes along with the desire to have a minimum credible defense posture.

And with that defense posture comes with the idea of obtaining this weaponry as it comes with the idea of protecting the country as a whole wherein the national coastline and the waters that surround the national territory and its archipelagic attribute is something for the Armed Forces to defend with, as part of their mandated duties and responsibilities as to safeguard the integrity and for the best interest of the whole citizenry.

Currently speaking, the Philippine Air Force's planning goes in correlation to this report from Inquirer dated December 19, 2019, in which they presented an idea where they see interest in the possible purchase of AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles in which this is ideal for their later utilization upon this materialization, as it goes apparently to the current progress concerning another project which is the Multirole Fighter Jet Program with the recent article we provided in a link here.

The report coincides with Boeing's marketing pitch that involves another platform which is the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter wherein they showcase its capability that, as a marketing move, goes that it satisfies the needs of the Philippines in terms of defending its territory like those currently taking place in the West Philippine Sea. Take note that the Philippine Air Force has its own Attack Helicopter program in which the competition is between the AH-1Z Viper and the T-129 ATAK helicopter from Turkey. (The discussion for the Apache will be discussed in a future entry).

Setting the helicopter discussions aside, let us deal with the idea of having such a platform given that as far as the Armed Forces of the Philippines is concerned, there are two other anti-ship missile platforms that the other branches within the military are also seeking as it goes integrated onboard warships like those for the new frigates that the Philippine Navy is about to receive this year or those for the Philippine Army that is apparently being finalized this year.

THE STORY OF BOEING'S DEFENSE SECTOR

The P-8 Poseidon was derived from a Boeing 737 design.
Image Source.

To understand more in-detail regarding the AGM-84 Missiles which may soon be available in the Air Force's array of different military guided and unguided sets of loaded munitions in its inventory, let us discuss at a glance with regards to the company that produces it as apparently, they are known enough in the defense industry as their products are what composes of several of the United States Armed Forces' key military assets.

While the current iteration of the company came as the result of Boeing's merge with another prominent U.S. Aerospace/Defense Company McDonnell Douglas, it is worth noted that the company started on July 16, 1916, of which Boeing with its original organization decades before the merge was founded by William E. Boeing where it has resulted from a merger with his other company, Pacific Aero Products Co.

Discussing the company as a whole may take a lot of space which render this page unbearable to read with a lengthy write-up, let us specifically emphasize Boeing's division more known as the Boeing Defense, Space, and Security with its headquarters originally established in St. Louis in Missouri where they transfer recently near the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. and is the one that oversees the production of missiles and other military hardware like the AGM-84 Harpoon Missiles.

Speaking of the history of Boeing's division as compared to the company's overall history, it is worth considering that the division formed just recently with its original form known as the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems which founded on July 10, 2002, where it came as a result of the company's re-organization of its key businesses dealing with the military, defense and security development as well manufacturing matters to streamline corporate operations with the division overlooking defense contract prospects, marketing of military platforms and developing a new set of weaponry for the future U.S. Armed Forces use as well as for ever-changing aspects of combat.

This defense division of Boeing is known to produce key fighter aircraft such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet, different variants of F-15 Strike Eagle as it is originally produced by McDonnell Douglas before the merging of both companies, and AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter which was recently offered by the company to the Philippines and missiles such as the notable AGM-84 Harpoon missiles and drones like the Insitu ScanEagle.

It is nice to take note that the wide range of military assets that Boeing produces is currently in service with several Air Forces and militaries across the world with the United States being its largest customer which affirms its reputation along with its history in the defense industry, although the company is experiencing problems recently especially in its division that deals with commercial aircraft.

Hence, the defense division of Boeing along with the knowledge that McDonnell Douglas has with its own before the merge improves the company's prominence in both the defense and aerospace industry as it is one of the key U.S. Defense Companies that provide military weaponry across the world, along with its competitors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE HARPOON MISSILES

A Harpoon missile (RGM-84) was launched from a U.S. Littoral Combat Ship.
Image Source.

Being in service by around 32 nations across the world, the Harpoon missiles have a good reputation of utilization as it keeps military assets from fighter aircraft to surface vessels armed to teeth which renders an armed force to be much capable in providing deterrence as a result of a development taking place more than half a century ago.

While the United States Armed Forces kickstart a project for anti-ship missiles in 1965, it is not until 1972 that McDonnell Douglas (the one that developed the Harpoon) initiated its first flight wherein it took five more years until the first series of munitions were deployed in 1977, wherein it entered service with the United States Navy onboard its surface warships.

The improvements that were introduced along with the missile came with time as different blocks of Harpoons provided from the original Block 1 of the late 1970s to the Block 1B that was introduced in 1981, the Block 1C wherein this apparently became the recent iteration of the Harpoon of its time developed from 1982, with the Block 2 now the latest version introduced with a first contract set in 1998 and apparently is the current one that the United States and other users have utilized.

A Block II+ version is currently in the planning works, as the United States Government through the congress, has provided support for Boeing to enhance its development of a missile that was introduced five decades earlier as the recent upgrades may provide that significant boost that the U.S. Military may need in the future, something that gives benefit to key allies like the Philippines which seeks such munitions later on.

This goes to show the ever-improving development of the Harpoon missiles which it is currently enjoying support from its manufacturer and even from its key main users like the United States Armed Forces, wherein these guided anti-ship munitions may see more action, in the long run, providing that capability of delivering the payload sufficiently unto the target vessel with satisfiable results.

SPECIFICATIONS AND VARIANTS

The Harpoon missile's specs. Click to enlarge. Image Source.

Being introduced in the early 1970s, the Harpoon missile is the most common missile weaponry munition in the western military's arsenal, in which it can be seen launched onboard military warships such as Destroyers and Frigates, Submarines, and military aircraft particularly the ones that are made in the United States like the Boeing-produced F-15 Strike Eagle and F/A-18 Super Hornet.

As discussed, there are several Blocks which define the developmental stages of the Harpoon missiles wherein the then-McDonnell Douglas and eventually, Boeing introduced features which are incorporated on the missiles with the Block 1 launched in an altitude before diving itself then skimming into its target with the Block 1B removing such a feature and eventually the Block 1C having it as an optional thing.

The Block 2's feature meanwhile is an improvement from the previous developmental stages of the Harpoon missile as it incorporates additional attributes involving resistance from countermeasures such as an enemy anti-air missile launched in defense from a VLS or vertically-launched system of a warship coupled with a Close-in Weapons System or CIWS as well as having an improved targeting feature which ensures that the missile will have a greater chance of getting into the target accurately.

There are at least three variants of the Harpoon missiles in inventory which come as follows - 

AGM-84 - A Harpoon variant that can be launched from an aircraft and is also the one that the Philippine Air Force considers for its additional inventory of guided munitions weaponry.

RGM-84 - A surface-launched Harpoon variant that can be found onboard surface warships such as Destroyers like the Arleigh-Burke class of the United States Navy, or Frigates and other warships of any type from any of its 30 users of such military platform.

UGM-84 - Submarine-launched variant of the Harpoon missile.

These anti-ship missiles are compatible enough to be fitted onboard US-made aircraft in the case for the AGM-84 as a plug-and-play feature wherein there will be fewer configurations needed as the weaponry goes along with the ecosystem that it came along as it goes on the idea of interoperability along with the military platforms in service within the United States Armed Forces and on the other users of such weaponry.

Its range as provided in the graph is at approximately 67 nautical miles which are converted to 124.084 kilometers in distance from the platform it was launched - either from a warship, submarine, or an aircraft up to its intended target at a high subsonic speed of Mach 0.9, nearing at the speed of sound which is at Mach 1.

With the details provided, it is for sure will provide a capability that any armed forces desire to have against enemy targets specifically an intruding nation's frigate or destroyer wherein one shows resolve or simply deterrence of obtaining such platform that having a minimum credible defense posture still in itself a force to get reckoned with.

AS PART OF THE MULTIROLE FIGHTER JET PROJECT

The Philippine Air Force includes these munitions as part
of the Multirole Fighter Jet Program. Credits to the original source.

It is well known that the Philippine Air Force is currently embarking on what will be known as one of its notable big-ticket projects under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP) Horizon 2 which is the acquisition that involves 12 units of Multirole Fighter Jets, equatable to a single squadron.

Read: Updates for the Philippine Air Force Multirole Fighter Jet Acquisition Project

With the abstract budget of the contract pegged at Php 61,200,000,000.00 based on an exchange rate of Php55.00 as opposed to US$1.00, and with the current exchange rate between the Philippine Peso and the US Dollar as of article posting at Php50.00 as opposed to US$1.00, it is not surprising that there is something more with the budget can provide in terms of having just the units alone.

This is where the report came in with Boeing pitching the AH-64 Apache have while having negotiations on a possible purchase of the Harpoon missile which will be done through a Foreign Military Sales route, rendering an idea of providing the incoming multirole fighter jets capability in delivering such payload needed that is essential for the protection of the country's national territory from the enemy's capable surface warships, given that the Philippines as an archipelago is surrounded by bodies of water in which the Air Force in this manner may help augment the Philippine Navy in terms of firepower aside from their duties and responsibilities in protecting the Philippine Air Defense Identification System or PADIZ.

With the Lockheed Martin F-16 Viper being the currently preferred candidate for the Multirole Fighter Jet program, it is an additional thing in putting munitions such as the AGM-84 in the picture wherein the weaponry can simply be fitted onboard the aircraft as a plug and play component which is an advantage especially in having both the platform and the weapons fit have originated and produced by a single nation.

Therefore, it will be a promising thing for the organization to have such a capable platform wherein it also comes with weaponry that is also capable in terms of delivering such firepower that will sufficiently undermine the enemy especially on its intent that poses threat against a country's sovereignty.

THE LOGISTICS AND THE THREE ANTISHIP MISSILE SYSTEMS WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES

While the PAF will have the Harpoon, the PN meanwhile
will soon have this - the SSM-700K "Haesong" anti-ship missile.
Image obtained via Wikimedia Commons.

While the deal with the Philippine Air Forces is on obtaining Harpoon missiles as its own anti-ship weaponry that can be delivered from a multirole fighter aircraft, other branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have varying military weaponry with them which were obtained from different sources, in different countries, while attaining such a similar purpose of eliminating such a target from the sea.

First of those missiles is the South Korean-made SSM-700K "Haesong" anti-ship missile in which we discussed in another article dealing with an advent for a missile-guided Philippine Navy wherein these missiles are expected to be fitted onboard the newest class of warships that the organization is about to obtain this year which is the Jose Rizal-class Frigates - BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151).

Both of the ships were made by Hyundai Heavy Industries with most of its subcomponents fitted are originated from South Korea such as the Hanwha Systems Naval Shield ICMS and the SSM-700K which will be the default anti-ship munitions of these warships that will be the most sophisticated ones that the Philippine Navy will soon obtain.

Another missile system is the Philippine Army's BrahMos cruise anti-ship missiles which will be purchased from India through BrahMos Aerospace wherein the Department of National Defense is seeking to have two batteries, each with three launchers as opposed to four launchers that the Indian Armed Forces employ on their respective missile batteries, rendering the Army's shifting capabilities from internal security to external defense matters as they may later have the capability to destroy targets at sea which augments both the Navy and later the Air Force's capabilities in doing the same thing.

Having three anti-ship missile systems across all of the three military branches under the Armed Forces of the Philippines seems to pose a logistical challenge given that all of these systems are designed with a purpose in line with the country's defense posture which is to eliminate targets at sea, specifically surface warships that poses threat against national security.

Despite having such a potential challenge, let it be take noted that the Harpoon missile is a plug-and-play platform for the currently preferred MRF of the Philippine Air Force while such a thing is not possible, if not going expensive, with the Indian BrahMos missile which in itself is capable with its speed almost three times than that of the Harpoon and can be launched from land, and also with the SSM-700K which was chosen as the default weaponry for the Jose Rizal-class Frigates that the Philippine Navy will soon to have.

Therefore, the difference in requirements between military service branches has their respective reasons so as for the AFP to have three different capable anti-ship missile systems, with different attributes and capabilities which all goes with the country's desire in building up with tools required and needed for a minimum credible defense posture.

IN SUMMARIZING THINGS UP

The United States Air Force F-16 Multirole Fighter Jet is equipped
with AGM-84 Harpoon Missile. Image Source.

The Philippine Air Force, in the same manner as the different military branches within the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is ramping up its capabilities which came along in protecting the nation's territorial integrity and national interest, which means protecting the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone and providing air support on areas needed.

This is done with the number of procurements being made through the years like the Korean Aerospace Industries FA-50PH and eventually embarking on its project that is currently being materialized such as the Multirole Fighter Jet Program wherein there is the competition between Lockheed Martin's F-16 Viper and SAAB's JAS-39 C/D variant with the former currently in the advantage.

That being said, obtaining weaponry through fitted munitions such as the AGM-84 Harpoon missiles that the Philippine Air Force is seeking is just as essential as the Multirole Fighter Jets it pursues to have so as it will give these jets the fullest potential of its capability as it is getting to be a force that reckons with especially for a maritime nation like the Philippines that relies on such platforms in terms of defense matters which helps augment the firepower that goes in line with the role of the Philippine Navy.

Despite having three different anti-ship missile platforms, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is desirable to have such kind of weaponry as these missiles, although originated from different countries which were made by different suppliers, may still get its job done as all of these platforms came in line with the minimum credible defense that the country needs in defending its national territory and integrity from external threats.

Nevertheless, the AGM-84 Harpoon missile, along with the Multirole Fighter Jet aircraft which are both being finalized, may be done within this year as having these things will provide a much-needed boost for the Philippine Air Force to have, wherein it goes with the aspirations, hopes, and dreams that the momentum will be gained from thereon.

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Indonesian APS-3 Panser Anoa 6x6 Armored Personnel Carrier for the Philippine Army?

The Philippine Army, along with other branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is in its process of having its procurement projects getting materialized as the tools they needed are something that will help them uphold their duties and responsibilities as they are now coping with both threats inside and outside of the country with respective military weaponry and units being utilized to get the job done.

DISCUSSION OVERVIEW

Indonesian-made Armored Personnel Carrier offered to the
Philippine Army. Obtained via Wikimedia Commons.

It is known that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is working with the greatest effort to Modernize the organization on a higher level, of which military branches like the Philippine Army is doing what it can to form new units, add more manpower, and most of all pouring resources on several procurement projects which help uphold their duties and responsibilities in the process.

Moreover, it is known that the Philippine Army currently has a handful of Armored Personnel Carriers in its inventory, coming in the form of V-150 Chamites, GKN Simbas and the numerous M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier which has come with various weapons fits wherein the recent ones include upgrades on weapons systems and firepower as provided by Elbit Systems of Israel coming in the form of UT-25 gun turrets and remote-controlled weapons systems (RCWS).

Given the age of several of those aforementioned armored personnel carriers, especially to the wheeled variants, it will be not surprising for the Armed Forces especially for the Philippine Army to take that approach of modernizing such a fleet of military platforms to effectively augment the numbers needed for these units to be employed in combat and eventually getting them replaced along the way.

It is worth taking note that this discussion will involve a neighboring Southeast Asian country wherein its military-industrial self-reliance comes with the story which will help them bolster their entry on the weapons export market in a manner that improves this industrial field which in the process improves their economy and their desires of getting a firm foothold on this market.

This neighboring Southeast Asian manufacturer is also the one that is marketing this armored personnel vehicle in which it is also in service in the country of origin wherein it complies with the qualifications needed in terms of considering this offer for the procurement process covering this project for the Philippine Army.

KNOWING INDONESIA'S PT PINDAD

PT Pindad Panser Anoa's production line. Take note that it is
with this vehicle that they pitch on for the Philippine Army
Armored Personnel Carrier (wheeled) program.
Courtesy to Deutsches Asienforschungszentrum's website.

PT-Pindad (Persero) is an Indonesian State-owned military enterprise in which it goes reminiscent to the Philippine's Government Arsenal, only that the former specializes its manufacturing capability to the production of armored vehicles like the Panser Anoa (as seen in the image of its production line) as well as being operated as a form of a Government Controlled Corporation and the latter specializing itself on the production of firearms ammunitions and refurbishment of government-issued firearms with its management primarily under the Department of National Defense.

Its history started with the Dutch Colonial Era which was governing Indonesia which was known at that time as the Dutch East Indies wherein in 1808, it's Governor-General William Herman Daendels established a workshop which is intended for procurement, maintenance, and repairs of the Netherlands Colonial Forces' military arsenal wherein it is called as the Constructie Winkel, which was renamed in 1851 as the  Artilerie Constructie Winkel (ACW), wherein these workshops are situated in Surabaya.

Throughout the colonial period, it served as an instrument for the Dutch Colonial Government to produce military equipment and munitions of which it will be utilized by its forces as part of their operations in the East Indies wherein they decided to transfer their workshops to Bandung during the First World War wherein the Netherlands involved.

After the Japanese surrender in 1945 (of which they utilize these workshops/factories throughout the Second World War as part of their occupation in Indonesia), the factories are compiled together which became the Leger Produktie Bedrijven (LPB), wherein its organization setup remained until the Dutch recognition of the Indonesian Independence in 1949 in which they subject to turn-over colonial assets to the newly-formed government of which it includes the LPB.

At the first organization of the Indonesian Government, the Leger Produktie Bedrijven (LPB) was renamed as the Pabrik Senjata dan Mesiu (PSM) or the Weapons and Ammunitions Factory, then to Pabal AD and eventually to Pindad, under the management of the Indonesian National Army or the Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Ankatan Darat (TNI-AD) wherein it produces military equipment and munitions for the Indonesian Military.

Those periods of being under the Indonesian National Armed Forces go reminiscent of the operations of the Philippine Government Arsenal of the current date where weaponry and munitions are being produced and refurbished as it provides the needs of the Philippine Armed Forces as well as those for the Philippine National Police.

PT Pindad became a limited company which is its current composition in 1978 as the government seeks transfer of technology wherein it goes with their own desire to have an indigenous military industry as well as to advance further self-reliance in providing more sophisticated military platforms from just basic weapons and munitions in which its stocks are majority controlled by the Indonesian Government (which is their own form of a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation).

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Anoa's design seen semblance to the French VAB, of which
it is utilized currently by Indonesia. Obtained via Wikimedia Commons.

The Panser Anoa is indeed an armored personnel carrier proudly made in Indonesia, although its story will not be completed without giving an ideal picture regarding its design and development before getting in service within Indonesia's National Armed Forces, especially to its Army.

Its inspiration may be seen in another armored personnel carrier which is currently in service with the Indonesian Armed Forces wherein this was produced by a country situated in Europe, by a country that is also known for exporting valuable military equipment of various types to countries that has an interest in obtaining them in the same way as to how the United States and other countries do arms export.

Coming into this picture is the French VAB or known as Vehicule de l’Avant Blinde where was produced by France's Nexter Systems which was formerly the Giat Industries with its production units of VAB Armored Personnel Carriers currently in service in at least 15 countries which includes France itself and Indonesia where they get the cue for the Panser Anoa's design.

As for the development of the Panser Anoa, or APS-3 as it is designated by Pindad, it all started in 2003 when the Indonesian government laid down the framework for a new armored personnel carrier in which the PT Pindad, being a Limited Company with stocks owned by the Indonesian Government initiated its development for such a unit needed by the Indonesian National Army.

Three years later, the APS-3 was unveiled by the manufacturer followed by its production wherein the first 150 units have delivered to the Indonesian Armed Forces, validating along the process its current qualification in the standards that the Philippine Defense Department seeks on military procurement in terms of being utilized by the manufacturer's country of origin.

It takes three more years for the Indonesian Government to utilize these indigenously-built armored personnel carriers in combat operations which shows the capability of an Indonesian Defense Industry like PT Pindad in producing such a platform on a massive scale that provides that assured self-reliance that the country needs, something that provides the Philippines some example for its own Self-Reliance Defense Posture or SRDP.

Now, they are expanding it up by selling these proudly made in Indonesia military asset in which they set sights on its neighboring Southeast Asian Country which have set precedent to the interest of getting this topic discussed in the first place, which this move goes reminiscent to another Indonesian defense industrial component that has successfully sold their respective products to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

SPECIFICATIONS

The PT Pindad Panser Anoa's Specifications.
Click to enlarge. Image Source.

The specification of the PT Pindad product Panser Anoa is provided in an image above as resourced from the Military Factory Website in which its primary user the Indonesian National Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Darat or TNI-AD) obtains around 308 units of such platform and remains the sole user of these armored personnel carriers to date.

Its production numbers provide the capacity that PT Pindad obtains in producing these armored personnel carriers in which they are up to the challenge of marketing its products abroad given its prominent use within the Indonesian Armed Forces in the hopes of getting an export customer as they have the desire of getting a fair share of the international defense market.

Its service alone in the Indonesian Armed Forces satisfies the procurement requirements that the Armed Forces of the Philippines obtain where one country of origin or at least two countries have such platforms actively used as opposed to the other candidate that PT Pindad also pushes which is the Harimau Hitam (also known as the Kaplan MT) for the Army's Light Tank Acquisition Project - Tracked tank portion.

Its size goes reminiscent of the known armored personnel carriers/infantry fighting vehicles that were discussed here such as the original ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle (with the ASCOD II MMBT being a candidate for the Philippine Army Light Tank Project - tracked variant) and the Pandur II Infantry Vehicle (with its fire support variant being a candidate for the same Light Tank Project for wheeled variant) where the size range comes at a length of 5.7 (Pandur 1) up to 7.5-7.6 m (Pandur 2/ASCOD - Austrian ULAN) with the width of 2.5 (both Pandur and Panser Anoa) up to 3.4 m (ASCOD - Austrian ULAN).

Its powerplant is a French-made Renault MIDR 062045 diesel engine which is also can be found on the French-made Vehicule de l’Avant Blinde or VAB that the APS-3 Panser Anoa was derived upon which produces 320 horsepower which is more powerful than the Cummins ISC 350 diesel that powers the Pandur 2 IFV while it is lesser than the MTU V8 199 T21 diesel engine that is provided on an Austrian ULAN IFV, an ASCOD variant.

As compared to the French VAB in which the APS-3 Panser Anoa was derived (with its development traced way back 1976), there comes a semblance wherein the specifications of both platforms are almost similar one after the other, with the Indonesian Panser Anoa garnering an additional single seat for the crew with a bit more powerful engine derived from the same manufacturer (such as Renault), almost similar in dimension and having a range less than half than the VAB.

The APS-3 with its specifications is something that the Indonesian Armed Forces seeks in its fleet of armored personnel carriers which is the thing that the Philippine Army may consider given that both countries share the same attributes in its topography and geographic features wherein such capabilities are something of an additive for the latter as it keeps on modernizing for the better.

AS OPPOSED TO THE PHILIPPINE ARMY'S EXISTING WHEELED ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER PLATFORMS

A Philippine Army GKN Simba on Display. Image courtesy of
Wikimedia Commons.

The Philippine Army currently obtains a handful of wheeled armored personnel carriers in its inventory along with tracked ones which point particularly to the M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier wherein several of such units were upgraded recently with several sophisticated fitted weaponry of various types as provided by an Israeli Company.

Its wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers come at two variables - the GKN Simba in which it was produced by GKN Sankey which is now currently part of BAE Systems situated in the United Kingdom, and the V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando wherein both are still in service within the Philippine Army as of the current date.

As for the GKN Simba wherein the Philippine Army being the sole user of such type of Armored Personnel Carriers in the world, its specifications are roughly similar to the Indonesian APS-3 Panser Anoa offer as it obtains almost similar 600-kilometer range while the GKN Simba being lighter than the APS-3 at 11.2 tons as opposed to 14 tons with its engines getting lesser horsepower than on the platform that PT Pindad offered.

There are also some rough similarities with another wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier that the Philippine Army obtains which is the V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando as its specifications have gone reminiscent with the GKN Simba which correlates its weight at 11 tons while being powered by a single 202 horsepower Chrysler V-104 diesel engine which has lesser output than the APS-3 Panser Anoa and obtains that roughly-similar 600-kilometer range that the two aforementioned wheeled armored personnel carriers obtain.

Given these details, the APS-3 does not provide too much of a feature that will show as an improvement over the existing platforms that the Philippine Army has in its inventory wherein both the V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando and the GKN Simba have almost similar capabilities that the APS-3 Panser Anoa to provide, only that these two types of armored personnel carrier platforms are taking its age which affects its efficiency in MRO or Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul.

Moreover, it is worth highlighting that while the V-150 has a lot of users that are worthy of sourcing spare parts for its operations, the GKN Simba wherein the Philippine Army being the sole user of such platform may be seen as a problem in terms of its operations in the long run as the source for spare parts may go scarce which hampers its own logistical chain in which the APS-3 Panser Anoa offer by PT Pindad may be seen as an ideal thing to have.

From here, it may not be that surprising if the idea of having the GKN Simba wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers replaced, later on, gets arise as the idea of simplifying the logistical chain and having a source for spare parts needed in maintenance and repair are necessities to keep these armored vehicles operational for the years to come, with the APS-3 Panser Anoa having that support from its manufacturer PT Pindad which aspires to export its product and currently used by the Indonesian Armed Forces.

THE INDONESIAN MILITARY EXPORT PROSPECTS TO THE PHILIPPINES

Philippine Marine Corps KAAV-7s disembarking from BRP
Davao del Sur's well deck. Obtained from DVIDSHUB.

Through the recent years, it is worth notable that even before the offers made for the APS-3 Panser Anoa Armored Personnel Carrier of PT Pindad for the Philippine Army use for its inventory, there are already several Indonesian defense industries of various types that have managed to seal the deal with the Armed Forces of the Philippines which deals with different military equipment as needed across different military service branches.

One of those defense industries that have first set the trend for Indonesian military export of defense equipment is PT PAL Persero in which it provided two Landing Platform Docks for the Philippine Navy wherein it was derived from the Banjarmasin-class Landing Platform Docks which in turn derived itself from the Korean-designed Makassar-class Landing Platform Docks known as the Tarlac-class Landing Platform Docks with two ships currently in service which are the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and the BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602, as seen in the image above).

Another project that was made in Indonesia that has found its way to the inventory of the Philippine Armed Forces is the NC-212i Light Lift Aircraft that the Philippine Air Force accepted way back June 26, 2018, wherein they ordered two units of such type of aircraft that was made by another Indonesian defense industry which is the PT Dirgantara which produces aircraft for both the Indonesian Armed Forces and also for export, with the design of the NC-212i derived from the EADS-CASA which was absorbed eventually to the Airbus Military as the C-212 Aviocar.

Aside from these platforms that were accepted into the Armed Forces of the Philippines, it's worth considering that PT Pindad as a manufacturer is also pitching for another type of armored vehicle intended for another military acquisition project specified to those for the Philippine Army which is the Harimau Hitam (Kaplan MT) vehicle for the country's Light Tank Acquisition Project - tracked portion with its competitors is the ASCOD 2 MMBT from the General Dynamics European Land System (and pitched by Israel's Elbit Systems) and the K21-105 Medium Tank from South Korea's Hanwha Systems who also secured the award for the Philippine Marine Corps' eight-unit KAAV-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicles.

These platforms are just some of the examples that have provided wherein the Philippines have several of its military platforms supplanted by its fellow ASEAN neighbor whose military industry is on its rise as they are aspiring with the sale of these platforms which in the process increase their prominence in the international defense market.

It serves as a win-win for both sides wherein the buyer gets the assets it needs to continuously carry out its duties and responsibilities as defenders of the nation while the supplier getting its defense industry to grow further as this prospect help boost their local economy as well as to sustain this industry that will help them obtain the tools in terms of self-reliance for the years to come.

This goes to show the relations between the Philippines and Indonesia as neighbors which are getting stronger after its foundations way back in 1949 wherein it goes with the commonality that both of these nations have in terms of being both the members in ASEAN with improving economies, a democratic form of government and having similar geographic set up in a form of an archipelago.

WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN

PT Pindad Panser Anoa on display on the Philippine Army
Technology Day 2019. Image Source.

Recently, PT Pindad showcased its key military products in a Philippine Army even such as the one from the 2019 AFP Anniversary as they displayed their products such as the Panser Anoa (as indicated on the image above) along with the Harimau Hitam Tank as both have participated on the service branch's Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier Acquisition Project and Light Tank Acquisition Project, respectively.

This definitely shows that the company is pitching that hard wherein this action, shall they manage to win a contract in any of the projects they participated, may mean additional leverage in gaining a foothold on their part as they have the desire of increasing their presence in the export military defense market, with these developments being considered as the first export prospect for this Indonesian based defense industry.

It is not a first for Indonesia to export military equipment for the Philippine Armed Forces as they already did it through PT PAL Persero's Tarlac-class Landing Platform Docks (wherein they have the chance to bag the project for two more additional Landing Platform Docks for the Philippine Navy) and through PT Digantara as they exported the NC-212s for the requirements needed by the Philippine Air Force.

Given the points provided above, it is not far from a certainty that such a platform may go considered as the Panser Anoa is being actively produced by its Manufacturer and being utilized by the Indonesian Armed Forces, as the Philippine Army may see the desire of getting such platforms that will help augment its existing platforms like the GKN Simba and the V-150 Cadillac Gage and eventually having them replaced as logistically needed in the long run.

Overall, this project is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Grand Scheme of things as they keep on pushing their Modernization efforts as capabilities are being enhanced which helps them carry out their duties and responsibilities mandated to them by the laws the country has enacted with the aspiration of keeping the nation and its citizens safe and its interest safeguarded for the benefit of the people in the generations to come.

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Additional Pohang-class Corvettes for the Philippine Navy?

The Philippine Navy acquires its own first Pohang-class Corvette wherein it bears the name BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39), in which it is currently known (at the time of this article is published) as the most capable navy warship to have, only to be surpassed by the Jose Rizal-class Frigates upon its delivery next year.

With that acquisition comes with the endless possibilities of purchasing more ships of such class in its inventory as additional acquisitions do come with economic advantages that are helpful for the Philippine Navy continuously sustain the operations, repairs, and maintenance of these ships as it bolsters up the numbers required in patrolling the country's vast archipelagic, territorial and extra-territorial waters.

DISCUSSION OVERVIEW

The Pohang-class Corvette BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39).
Obtained from the Philippine Navy via Wikimedia Commons.

The Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea in the past couple of years have numerous successful deals which relate to several small and big-ticket defense purchases that are considered a big boost for the former's desire to Modernize its military as they face threats especially with a neighbor encroaching in the country's western seas.

Among the military assets that have procured from South Korea is the former ROKS Chungju (PCC-762) which is now named within the Philippine Navy fleet as the BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39) which is currently considered as the most capable warship that the Navy obtains to date - until the arrival of the Jose Rizal-class Frigates by next year.

Currently, obtaining such a vessel is a welcoming addition for the fleet's capabilities as it comes with fitted weaponry that doubles that to the existing vessels that the Navy obtains as well as having torpedoes and sensors that are meant for antisubmarine operations as it goes integral for the country's patrol and defense of the waters that surround the country which composes of an archipelago.

While obtaining one capable vessel is an improvement for the fleet's overall capability, simply retaining to such number goes insufficient as the country's vast waters to patrol and defend is something that is not sufficing to the fleet's current composition of ships, not to mention that obtaining a fleet of ships of similar built and class is something that benefits the logistical chain of supplies on spare parts in the long run.

Other than that, there is also the benefit of compatibility especially with regards to the procurement of additional ships of a similar class in the long run as the skillsets between the crew and maintenance teams in terms of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations are shared along as this streamlines any training that involves the performance and roles that these ships play within the Philippine Navy.

To take note, the South Koreans still obtains a handful of Pohang-class Corvettes on its fleet that is now pending replacement which means a lot of opportunities for the Philippine Navy to obtain two or more vessels which may equate the overall number of such warships within the naval inventory which may satisfy the necessities that may vary within the fleet as well as the certain numerical rule of ship operations that will be explained later throughout this article.

This discussion talks about the possibility for the fleet in having more Pohang-class Corvettes in the Philippine Navy as the inputs provided will give us an insight into the prospective composition of the fleet that correlates the capabilities it obtains and also to the respect of its existing vessels that it currently obtains in which several of it was old and needs replacement.

THE BRP CONRADO YAP AND THE PHILIPPINE FLEET PLUS SOME POHANG-RELATED INFORMATION

The BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39) sets the precedent on the idea of
acquiring more Pohang-class Corvettes for the Philippine Navy.
Obtained via Inquirer.net website.

Before proceeding, we recommend to read this related article regarding the to the BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39) dated August 31, 2019, here:
https://pitzdefanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-pohang-class-brp-conrado-yap-ps-39.html

Recalling the contents of the article, let it be known once again that the Philippine Navy's Pohang-class Corvette was delivered in the country way back August of 2019 in which this is considered one of the latest vessels that were added in the fleet alongside the more-recent Multipurpose Attack Craft Mk. 4s which came in three units that were commissioned into service alongside four more Amphibious Assault Vessels for the Philippine Marine Corps.

Like any other Flight III Pohang-class Corvettes, the ex-ROKS Chungju (PCC-762) came up with two units 76mm Oto Melara Guns, two units 40mm OtoBreda Twin Guns, two units Mark 32 Triple Torpedo tubes intended for munitions like the South Korean-made K-745 Blue Shark Torpedoes, Signaal (Thales) PHS-32 Hull Mounted Sonar, and Signaal (Thales) WM-28 Fire Control System.

Before the ex-ROKS Chungju was considered by the Philippine Navy to be the BRP Conrado Yap, another Pohang-class Corvette was considered and assessed wherein such ship that was checked upon was the decommissioned ROKS Mokpo (PCC-759) which belonged to the Flight II Pohang-class Corvettes with a minimal difference on the weapons fit as compared to the Flight III variants that were received by various countries which will be discussed through this article.

Speaking of Flight II variant of the Pohang-class Corvettes, let it be known that there is also one recipient country that has also received such military assets, in which it came along with the rejected offers like in the case of the Philippines for the ROKS Mokpo, rendering the number of ships on this variant available for sale at two units - PCC-757 (the ROKS Gunsan) and PCC-759 (the ROKS Mokpo).

Some additional information about the South Korean offer of the PCC-757 ROKS Gunsan to the Colombian Navy, it was apparently rejected in favor of the earlier Donghae-class Corvette ex-ROKS Anyang (PCC-755), in which it was renamed to ARC Narino (CM-55) and is considered a sole Corvette in service within the Colombian Naval fleet - rendering and affirming that like the ROKS Mokpo, the ROKS Gunsan was also rejected by the Colombians which render the possible availability of the ships.

Back to the topic of the BRP Conrado Yap's role and composition in the Philippine Navy, it is worth notable that with the arrival of the Jose Rizal-class Frigates by the year 2020, it is currently the most capable warship to date as it comes with weapons fit that comes with more firepower as well as the aforementioned torpedo launchers that even the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels still didn't obtain at present although such vessel has room to improve its capabilities as it is now in the process of getting an upgrade.

With its capability, it gives a precedent for an idea of an additional unit or more Pohang-class Corvettes that will surely give the Philippine Navy more tools it needs to uphold its duties and responsibilities in maritime defense as more waters will be covered by vessels that come with better firepower as compared with other vessels in the fleet.

PROSPECTIVE USERS OF POHANG-CLASS CORVETTES Aside from South Korea itself

The Vietnamese Navy also obtains Pohang-class Corvettes, coming
at two units. Image obtained from VietDefense via APDJ.

Let it be noted that aside from the Philippines, other countries have obtained their respective Pohang-class Corvettes from South Korea in which the transferred ships are in active service and are currently continuing upholding its functions which goes beyond their service of the ship's first user which is the Republic of Korea Navy.

These countries aside from the Philippines are the following - Vietnam, Egypt, and Peru with the inclusion of Colombia shall we consider the Donghae-class Corvettes as the Flight I variant of its own class that shares design attributes with the succeeding Pohang-class Flight variants wherein the Vietnamese obtain two ships - formerly the ROKS Gimcheon (PCC-761) and ROKS Yeosu (PCC-765) which are now called as the HQ-18 and HQ-20 (as depicted on the image above) respectively, Egypt with the former ROKS Jinju (PCC-763) now called the ENS Shabab Misr (1000), and Peru with the former ROKS Gyeongju (PCC-758) now called the BAP Ferre (211).

Among these countries including the Philippines, it is the Vietnamese Navy who received more ships than South Korea as they obtain two of such class, and there comes a possibility on their end as well as on other prospective users to add more of such class in their fleet given that the rationale of such purchase goes with the idea of a lesser burden on logistics of spare parts especially if it goes by bulk as well as more units of a similar platform for respective navies to familiarize on.

Including the Colombian offer, the number of ships that have transferred to foreign navies from South Korea as of this entry comes with six units wherein it is in operation by at least six countries including the country of origin, with all ships under the Flight III variant of the Pohang-class Corvettes transferred to these said users.

Pulling this number out, it is worth to consider that South Korea is still the largest user of such type of Corvettes wherein they obtain the more modern Flight of the Pohang-class which is the Flights IV and V variants, of which they may later go on up for grabs for any prospective country like the Philippines itself.

Speaking of these Flights of ships, it will be worthy to be discussed in depth its improvements over the Flight III variant which includes the BRP Conrado Yap that currently is in operation with the Philippine Navy given that there goes the variation regarding the subcomponents and weapons fit that these respective vessels obtain wherein it goes with their respective roles as either anti-surface (ASUW), anti-submarine (ASW) or anti-air (AAW) components.

Hence, the on-going modernization efforts within the South Korea Navy as these ships are to be replaced by larger Incheon-class Frigates and eventually the Daegu-class Frigates, of which the Jose Rizal-class Frigates that the Philippine Navy obtains is considered as a subclass of these newest additions within the South Korean Fleet may render the remaining Pohang-class Corvettes open for grabs in which it is considered an opportunity for the Philippine fleet to get more ships that augment the BRP Conrado Yap in filling up the ship of its class.

THE REMAINING FLIGHT OF SHIPS THAT EVENTUALLY ARE UP FOR GRABS Once decommissioned in service

A Flight IV Pohang-class Corvette. Image Source.

Currently, the total number of Pohang-class Corvettes in service with the South Korean Navy is at 13 units with 7 units active from the Flight IV variant which composes of the following: ROKS Suncheon PCC-767,  ROKS Wonju PCC-769, ROKS Andong PCC-771, ROKS Bucheon PCC-773, ROKS Seongnam  PCC-775, ROKS Jecheon PCC-776, and ROKS Daecheon PCC-777.

Completing the number of total units of active Republic of Korean Navy Pohang-class Corvettes to 13 current serviceable assets is the Flight V variant which comes with six units active that composed with these ships: ROKS Sokcho PCC-778, ROKS Yeongju PCC-779, ROKS Namwon PCC-781, ROKS Gwangmyeong PCC-782, ROKS Sinseong PCC-783, and ROKS Gongju PCC-785 which is considered the last ship of the class that was built for the South Korean fleet use.

Take note that the ships that were decommissioned from any of these mentioned Flights are the ROKS Jinhae PCC-766, and ROKS Iksan PCC-768 wherein both of these vessels belonged to the Flight IV variant of the Pohang-class fleet, with the ROKS Cheonan PCC-772 (still a Flight IV variant Pohang vessel) being the one who fell victim to a North Korean Submarine.

Given the number of Pohang-class vessels that are still in service in the South Korean Navy, there goes the opportunity for the Philippine to grab more, especially in obtaining two more vessels to satisfy the rule of three needed for its operations wherein not to mention that its subcomponents are something that the country may obtain along serve as an enhancement over what the BRP Conrado Yap may currently provide within the fleet.

Moreover, it is nice to take note that these later Flight variants of the Pohang-class Corvettes are younger as opposed to the BRP Conrado Yap itself in which its service life may still be utilized more shall it be integrated into the Philippine Navy fleet composition with other factors involving excellent upkeep ranging from maintenance, repair, and operations.

These later versions are known to be built between 1988 and 1993 which is considered younger than both the Del Pilar-class Frigates and the Emilio Jacinto-class Patrol Corvettes are in terms of its age in correlation to the dates the hulls were made in which this will be something for the fleet composition that still operates World War 2 era vessels at the current date.

It will be nice to see on the developments which involve any of the ships from these flight variants of the Pohang-class Corvettes which in any way increases the number of capable vessels that the fleet needs amidst its current Modernization efforts as it keeps on building up its inventory of tools, resources, and manpower to get the job done.

"AS SWEETENERS" OF THE UPCOMING CORVETTE ACQUISITION PROJECT

BRP Jose Rizal on a sea trial. The Corvettes will be an improved
iteration of this warship. (c) Philippine Navy.

One idea to consider regarding the development of this project of additional Pohang-class Corvettes in the fleet is the procurement of newer, more sophisticated corvettes under the Philippine Navy's Corvette Acquisition Project or CAP wherein the preferred shipbuilder is the one who built the Jose Rizal-class Frigates for the Philippine Navy.

Since the shipbuilder is the Hyundai Heavy Industries or HHI, it comes as a factual thing that they will have these corvette designs derived from the Jose Rizal-class Frigates, only with more weapons subcomponents fitted onboard the system as well as having several Fitted For But Not With subcomponents included as well, wherein such feature is still not available onboard the Jose Rizal-class vessels.

It is with this project that an idea on sweeteners came along as the Department of National Defense sees the Corvette Acquisition Project as an opportunity to have additional Pohang-class Corvettes included in the deal as it will augment the capabilities of the BRP Conrado Yap which equates to the number of operating ships of that class up to three.

It is worth taking note that the rule of three applies in the operations of the Philippine Navy as they see the idea of having a single squadron of three ships that are doing their mandated duties and responsibilities of protecting the country's maritime domain and national interest as these ships obtain the capabilities needed in terms of increased firepower and antisubmarine detection which are not available on the older vessels that the fleet obtains.

To take some example on this rule of three, let it be known that ships like the Jacinto-class Patrol Corvettes/Offshore Patrol Vessels as well as the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels consist of three vessels that are forming these classes of ships wherein these are considered as a single naval squadron of its own right.

From here, one may give an idea about the essentials of having additional Pohang-class Corvettes in the future wherein having these vessels serve as a force multiplier wherein a collective of vessels in the fleet will help provide that maritime security as needed for the county's national defense.

It remains to be seen now regarding the implementation or the materialization of this proposal, although it comes with the potential that goes with the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that this project for additional assets to push through as it means a lot for the fleet's necessity of such platforms for its combat duty which is intended to patrol the country's vast coastline and maritime domain.

WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN 

Differences depicted between different flights of the
Pohang-class Corvettes. Image Source.

The idea of additional Pohang-class Corvettes is seen as a possibility given that the Philippine Navy is sticking to the rule of three as there will be rotation on the ship operations as one is needed for repairs and maintenance, the other for actual patrol operations, and the other being on standby.

It is worth taking note that other nations operate such type of ships and other potential customers are interested in getting these remaining Pohang-class Corvettes up for grabs, in a way that there is some sense of competition for the Philippine Navy to have in getting more ships needed to augment the ones existing on its fleet.

Currently, the BRP Conrado Yap PS-39 is seen as the most sophisticated ship within the Philippine Navy to date given its weapons fit aforementioned wherein it will be multiplied further on the idea of additional Pohang-class Corvettes in the fleet wherein there will be more ships on patrol that is also capable to hunt submarines.

South Korea still obtains Flight IV and V variants of the Pohang-class which are still up for grabs, wherein it has a variation on its weapons fit which may provide the Philippine Navy additional capability that it needs like anti-ship missiles that may help induce harm against other warships that are posing the threat against the country's national security.

The plan comes as the Defense Department is seeking it as some sort of a freebie from the construction of two new corvettes which is still considered as another variant of the Jose Rizal-class Frigates wherein they are expected to add more firepower that the fleet needs wherein these ships are seen as an improvement over the existing ships that the fleet obtains, with the percentage being old World War 2 vessels.

Shall these things push through, it will be an interesting thing to see for the fleet component of the Philippine Navy as they are kept on improving their capabilities which in itself is commendable given the number of assets they are aspiring to have ranged from the Frigates which will be delivered next year down to the planned Corvettes and FAIC-M.

These things are several of the projects that push the Armed Forces of the Philippines into an organization in which it obtains the capabilities that are in line with its Modernization Efforts specified in the Revised AFP Modernization Program thru the R.A. 10349, as it goes to provide that needed minimum credible defense posture that the country needs in defending its territorial integrity and national interest from both internal and external threats.

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