South Korean KT-1 Woongbi for the Philippine Air Force?

It is known that an organization such as the Philippine Air Force is pushing to have more military assets that are essential for its desire to have a formidable deterrence needed to work on its duties and responsibilities such as those for the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone or PADIZ as well as for its Close Air Support operations.

And with it comes an idea of providing pools of aspiring pilots more tools that will help enhance their skills in handling flying military assets which may help push the military branch's capabilities to the better, getting the sophisticated assets performing on their full potential from highly-skilled personnel.

AN OVERVIEW ON TRAINER AIRCRAFTS

This is an aircraft produced by Korean Aerospace Industries,
the same manufacturer of the FA-50PH that the Philippine
Air Force obtains.

The Philippine Air Force is in the process of Modernization which similarly goes with the other branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as they are seeking air assets that will supplant their duties and responsibilities before the nation as the protectors of the skies, in line with the service branch's Flight Plan 2028.

That includes the procurement of additional trainer aircraft which may provide the foundation for the Air Force's future pilots that will handle its sophisticated and formidable tools that will go hand-in-hand in performance and expertise needed especially if needed on combat situations that the country may partake, both internal and external ones that matter a lot for national defense.

Currently, the Philippine Air Force obtains a handful of SIAI/Marchetti AS-211 Basic Jet Trainers and SIAI/Marchetti SF-260 Light Trainer Aircraft, of which its variant also came with an attack variant such as the SF-260TP that the 15th Strike Wing obtains along with its fleet of OV-10s, AW-109s and soon-to-have Jordanian-donated AH-1s in its inventory, with the A-29 Super Tucano being the latest addition on their array of air assets.

These platforms are aging with the necessity of replacing these platforms is getting more important as time passes by. It is here that new military assets are being considered with the number of suppliers taking the interest to get a share of the Philippine defense market, especially within the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

On this discussion comes a supplier from South Korea which is also the one who supplied Philippine Air Force its Lead-in Fighter Trainers which can be also be considered as light combat aircraft that serves as an interim/step platform before the Multirole Fighter Jets on the process within the military branch. This is Korean Aerospace Industries' KT-1 Woongbi Trainer Aircraft.

KNOWING THE KOREAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES

A work-in-progress FA-50 unit which is intended for the Philippine
Air Force in the foreground. Image Source: KAI via Flickr.

While we wrote articles before about the products made by the Korean Aerospace Industries such as these topics involving the KUH-1 Surion and several FA-50PH related ones, there are fewer discussions on those contents before that involves the manufacturer and its background which is the Korean Aerospace Industries. 

Before we proceed, it is ideal to read these articles which include the products made by this Korean defense company:
- "The Idea of Having KUH-1 Surion Combat Utility Helicopters in the Philippine Air Force", written July 9, 2017
- "Upgraded FA-50PH Jets for the Philippine Air Force?", written April 05, 2019
- "The Role of FA-50PH as Both Trainer and Light Fighter", written December 01, 2016, and
- "The Idea of Having BVR features in an FA-50 Lead-In Fighter Trainer Jet", written January 31, 2019.

The company was founded in 1999 after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis in which revolutionizes the Korean defense industry especially with regards to aerospace matters at the turn of the century in which they produce a handful of military aerospace products, with several exported to several countries such as the Philippines.

Since then, it produces many aircraft that bolsters the Republic of Korea Air Force's capabilities to the extent that improves its self-reliance on the production of its aerospace assets in a sense that the local economy benefited from the developments being made in the country's defense industry as well as giving that needed support on sustaining its operations particularly in terms of their own aspects on maintenance and repair matters.

It is known that the company, Korean Aerospace Industries, at one point participated in the Philippine Air Force's Combat Utility Helicopter Acquisition Project as it offered the KUH-1 Surion Combat Utility Helicopter (see link above) on what might be the first export of such a product on a certain country, although it lost over the Sikorsky's offer that involves the delivery of 16 units of the S-70i Sikorsky Black Hawk Helicopters.

Meanwhile, it successfully secured a deal for the Philippine Air Force's Lead-in Fighter Trainer Jet Acquisition Project, of which it produced a squadron of FA-50PH (see links referenced above) that helps regain its jet capability since the F-5 A/B jets decommissioned fifteen years ago on 2005. Such a fleet of aircraft may get expanded later on as there is a prospect of adding these jets up as well as getting several units upgraded along the process.

These things are a reference regarding the Korean Aerospace Industry's performance on pitching its aircraft on the local Philippine Defense Market as they lost one project while they gain more on another. Their record on providing FA-50PH lead-in fighter trainer/light combat aircraft to the Philippine Air Force is something that may help them pitch their product for the country's basic trainer program.

SOME INSIGHTS THAT SHEDS LIGHT OVER THIS TOPIC

This post points out South Korea's prospect of cooperating on
the Philippine Air Force Training Aircraft Acquisition Program.
Image screengrab from Marky Lumayag's Concerned Philippines
for AFP Modernization, referencing Glen Lee's data.

The prospects regarding this topic point out from a private defense group shown above, with the reference coming from a South Korean source that posts interesting data about South Korea's involvement through cooperation over the Philippine Air Force's Training Aircraft Acquisition Program.

For the entirety of that thread's conversation, kindly check the webpage screengrab in a link provided here which also came with several comments that shed insight regarding this development that correlates to the main point of the discussion covering the topic on this article.

It is here that the rationale relating to this topic of having KT-1 Woongbi as one of the candidates of the trainer aircraft project arose in which there goes the correlation regarding the Philippine Air Force's desire for cooperation with their South Korean counterparts for the Trainer Aircraft Acquisition Program.

From the main post down to the thread as provided in the linked screengrab, one may simply have an idea that it all points out to the KT-1 Woongbi being an option for the project that involves the procurement of Training Aircraft which in itself as a consideration among other prospective offers on the program.

Such development may mean a lot regarding the relations between South Korea and the Philippines especially that the former already provide much of its produced military assets to the country in such a manner that in the investment that the latter provided, they gave the tools that are needed for country's continuous development especially in the field of defense.

Hence, this development may provide an idea regarding the development of one of the projects that the Philippine Air Force pursues in which it matters on their capabilities which includes enhancing the skillsets for the pilots to have, along with the tools and military equipment that is being procured that makes a job done in terms of protecting national aerospace.

ON THE AIRCRAFT'S DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIFICATIONS

Subcomponents and dimensions that define the KT-1 Woongbi.
Courtesy of Korean Aerospace Industries website.

Additional Information obtained from KAI's website:
MTOGW: 5,600lb (2.54t)
Empty Weight: 4,210lb (1.91t)
Power Plant: 950hp (max 1,150hp)
Max Speed: 350kt (648km/h)
G-Limit: -3.5/+7.0kg)

The development of this aircraft precedes that of the formation of the Korean Aerospace Industries as a current South Korean defense industry specialized in aerospace technology wherein it started its maiden flight eight years ago before such a formation, in the year 1991 that came at the end of the century.

Speaking of development, it started in the year 1988 in which South Korea seeks on having its first indigenously-developed aircraft wherein this was initiated by the South Korean Government's Agency for Defense Development or ADD together with the forerunner of the Korean Aerospace Industries which was considered a joint venture between South Korean companies through their aerospace divisions.

The first orders for the aircraft took place in 1999 of which the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) procured around 85 units plus another option for 15 units in which it rendered its service at the turn of the century, making the aircraft reputable within the South Korean military for the next two decades as well as paving the way for the Korean Aerospace Industries for improving its expertise more in terms of indigenously producing its aircraft.

Having these aircraft within the fleet of South Korea's Air Force means a lot for the country's pool of pilots that hones their skills further as such learning may also go augmented with other trainer aircraft that the Korean Aerospace Industries also produces such as the KC-100 "Naraon" basic trainer aircraft as well as the T-50 Golden Eagle in which the Philippine Air Force FA-50PH was based upon.

Aside from the Trainer-type Woongbi aircraft, the Republic of Korea Air Force also obtains a different variant of the KT-1 which in itself is armed with 12.7mm guns and LAU-131 Rocket Launchers which is the KA-1 Woongbi combat aircraft, although a far cry from the capabilities provided by an A-29 Embraer Super Tucano Close Air Support Aircraft that the Philippine Air Force may soon be having in its inventory.

These details are something that will set the foundation on the idea of having KT-1 Woongbi trainer aircraft that the Korean Aerospace Industries produces in the manner that another country like the Philippines may have such platform considered for its pool of pilots on its Air Force to hone more knowledge dealing with the skills needed on its operation.

ON THE OTHER PROPELLER-BASED AIRCRAFT THAT PAF OBTAINS

The Philippine Air Force obtains the SIAI/Marchetti SF-260 propeller aircraft
as its own basic trainer platform for pilots to hone basic skills
of flying. Image Source.

The Philippine Air Force obtains a handful of aircraft wherein a portion of it consists of trainer aircraft which is essential for their operations as their duty comes to the necessity of learning skills such as flying an aircraft which in itself is a defining factor to the duties and responsibilities instilled to the organization as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

It is with that portion that the Air Force obtains a handful of SIAI/Marchetti SF-260 propeller aircraft which serves the organization through the years, providing the platform that an aspiring pilot may have for them to get on another step of getting the proficiency of flying more sophisticated aircraft along the way, ranging from Close-Air-Support aircraft to speedy multirole fighter jets.

Regarding this aircraft in the Philippine Air Force, it was purchased in the early 1970s wherein they procured 46 units of such aircraft which was divided into two variants, naming the SF-260Ms which are the military trainer aircraft that came with 32 units with the remaining 16 units being the SF-260W variants that are the tactical support version which is capable on conducting basic close air support operations.

It is worth taking note that the Philippine Air Force also have several of such aircraft converted into what is currently known as the SF-260TP variant wherein 18 units from the 46 delivered were upgraded under project "Layang", with its engines upgraded into the Allison Model 250 now currently known as the Rolls-Royce M-250 Turboshaft along with its capability of carrying more munitions (now up to four hardpoints from the original two) which makes it a more capable close in support aircraft.

Hence, this setup is something that helps the Philippine Air Force coping its capabilities up until the point that newer assets such as the A-29 Super Tucano coming in for the Close Air Support platforms while the propeller-based aircraft trainers may go augmented with the ones like the candidate for the project like the Korean Aerospace Industries KT-1 Woongbi.

TO SUM IT UP

A Peruvian Air Force KT-1 Woongbi aircraft. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Things, as seen here, is as bright as other projects that are in the pipeline with the interest coming from an end-user such as the Philippine Air Force sees the interest of having such a platform intended for training purposes in a manner that the Korean Aerospace seeks opportunity with the hopes that their KT-1 Woongbi product may be ended up accepted along the way.

Let it be noted that with five countries currently using these aircraft (South Korea, Indonesia, Peru, and Turkey with additional orders from Senegal) makes it eligible for consideration, as well as having an assurance regarding the sources needed for spare parts especially in the case of the Philippines where it may benefit from neighboring Indonesia regarding this option.

Moreover, this development may help bolster the ties between both countries together especially in defense cooperation given that the South Koreans have already provided much of its produced military equipment which was produced at a number by several of its Defense Industries through the deals that benefit both the supplier and the end-user on their respective ends.

With the SIAI/Marchetti SF-260 basic trainer aircraft currently in service within the Philippine Air Force aging older which connotes increasing cost on its upkeep, perhaps this consideration may mean a lot for the service branch wherein they may have it augmented by these type of aircraft and eventually, replacing them along the way in a sense that it drives cost for maintenance and other operating expenses down.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen regarding the developments of this option that involves the KT-1 Woongbi wherein developments that covers the Modernization activities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines may change along the way as factors ranging from economic output to internal decision-making affecting these setups for planning in the long run. 

Despite these things, the purpose still goes the same as the Armed Forces' desire to increase its capabilities wherein they also need training platforms that are meant to hone the skills of any aspiring personnel that may help them execute their actions that render such capability utilized at its utmost potential.

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Summary of the President's Press Conference on COVID-19

Last March 13, 2020, President Duterte provided what is to be the guidelines regarding handling the situation regarding the current pandemic that is sweeping across the globe with the Philippines has its own share of those who are affected wherein this discussion still scopes under defense-related matters with national welfare on health are considered as such, under CBRNE or Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive factors which means a lot for the people's welfare and security with regards to their current livelihoods.

This scenario involves CBRNE Capabilities or things that involve
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive matters.
Image obtained from DVIDSHUB.

This information was made summarized through DND/AFP Modernization Updates and Review by an administrator named Emmanuel Zamora.

The Gist of the Presscon made by the office of the President are as follows:

1. Provincial quarantine if more than 2 positive COVID-19 cases

2. Work in the executive dept. is suspended, except for skeletal staff

3. Flexible work arrangement encouraged in the private sector. Manufacturing and retail businesses encouraged to stay open with social distancing and minimal workforce

4. Mass public transport shall continue operation with social distancing

5. Domestic air, sea, and land transport suspended from March 15, 2020 (12 midnight) to April 14, 2020, subject to the review of the inter-agency task force.

6. Code alert is now raised to Sublevel 2, the highest level

7. Stringent social distancing measures in NCR for 30 days

8. Suspension of classes in all levels in Metro Manila until April 12, 2020. Stay at home and study

9. Mass gatherings, either planned or spontaneous,...shall be prohibited during this period. If social distancing is no longer obeyed, if rules are disobeyed, this is punishable under the penal code and can be arrested by military and police

10. Community quarantine is hereby imposed in the entire of Metro Manila

11. In other areas, LGUs can impose localized quarantine

12. Baranggay-wide quarantine is advised if there are 2 or more COVID-19 cases

13. A municipality or city-wide quarantine will be advised if 2 positive COVID-19 cases or more

14. Not enough military and police to cover the whole country. Barangay Captain is the police. Barangay Captains can also go to prison if they don't enforce these regulations.

15. Close monitoring and reassessment of these regulations after 7 days from today

16. LGUs outside NCR advised to exercise sound discretion to suspend classes but does not allow you to suspend classes for trivial reasons

17. PNP and AFP shall be called upon for effective and orderly implementation of the above measures. This is not martial law. Do not be afraid of the PNP and AFP. They are there to help you.

18. Daily meetings of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and all relevant agencies

19. In social disturbance, the military will keep order

20. OFWs allowed to travel to Mainland China except to Hubei

21. If things deteriorate, we may have to ask for China's help

22. Entry travel restriction imposed to all countries with COVID-19 cases, except for Filipinos and their families, permanent visa holders, and diplomats

23. Purpose of this is to protect and defend you from COVID-19

24. AFP and PNP will maintain peace and order. Just follow.

25. Our COVID-19 cases relatively low but fast to rise. You will be asked to go to the hospital and seek treatment.

26. COVID-19 tests are free

27. I ask for your patience. Help each other. Everything is placed in jeopardy.

This detailed information is for everyone to be updated with regards to the current situation which affects daily routines that take place in the nation's capital which spans for at least a month. It is also at best to stay calm and be prepared at all times as well as not to spread any rumors that will spread fear along the way.

This article served as a reference for the current provided time.

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List - Military Assets Provided by the United States to the Philippines

The current developments surrounding the Visiting Forces Agreement came in a sense that naysayers are arguing lately that it went ineffective as well as to the overall help that the United States has provided to the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding its capabilities that bolster the power that the country's military organization accrue through the years.

Hence, it is just as good to lay down the facts regarding the assets that the United States Provided in the sense that several of this military equipment is second-hand as well as brand new ones in a way that it dispels that their aid consists more of the former.

Things in the list include this C-130 Cargo aircraft that carries
troops, equipment, and relief goods in areas of concern such
as combat zones and disaster-stricken areas. (c) Kit Agad, Jetphotos.

This list will contain deals, deliveries, and orders that took place between 1950 and 2018 which defines much regarding a country with its independence years post-Spanish, American and Japanese periods as well as with the bulk of its assets that covers much of the Cold War period spanning late 1940s down to the early 1990s.

The following information is obtained via the SIPRI Arms Transfers Database which they obtain a downloadable copy of what this page's content will be provided (link for the document here). 

As for the reason why this particular webpage exists despite having a downloadable copy is for the convenience of folks like you who read it here where it will not require such a download for the information to be provided as well as to have a ready-link for future reference use.

Also, this will set precedent on individual discussions which will be provided in the upcoming months in a way that different assets provided on the list may get discussed in detail later on especially on the benefits that reaped through the course of the bilateral relationships of these two close nations.

ASSETS PROCURED FROM 1950 - 2018

Click the image and zoom for mobile and tablet users or drag 
the image in a new tab for both laptop and desktop users.

Additional notes that will correct some details in the list provided are as follows - first, the Landing Ship Tanks (LST-1 class) were received and have got integrated into the fleet before the 1950s, and second, there are no Cannon-class Destroyer Escort from South Vietnam as opposed to the information provided. Credits to LCDR. Mark Condeno for this correction.

On the details provided in the report, it is simply showing that they provide much for the country's military capabilities which are worthy of a deterrent on both internal threats such as counterinsurgency and counterterrorist threats and external threats such as territorial defense from another nation that sees desire on encroaching that integrity and sovereignty that defines the whole country's jurisdiction and coverage of its authority.

Moreover, these assets such as the ones discussed on this blog website such as the S-70i Black Hawk Helicopters, AGM-65 Maverick Air-to-Ground Missiles, and M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers are something that the Armed Forces obtained recently, especially with the first two things mentioned with the third one obtaining recent upgrades on its weapons system which was done through an Israeli defense firm.

These military assets provided by the United States show that the relationships between two nations are strong through the years which came along with what is for both treaty allies are bounded at specifically before the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement wherein they provided that technical support like in terms of surveillance through UAVs which is definitely different from the idea of them looking over the country's external defense as it is the responsibility of the country's armed forces to do such a job.

Hence, let these assets provided as well as their other ways of support be a reminder that both nations have these strong relations in the past as affirmed allies which may stay strong even in the current situations that hamper it on the lowest scale ever given the government's current stance. Nevertheless, one may still hope that things may go favorably in this decade particularly that these things matter a lot for the country's desire of having a firm minimum credible defense posture.

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The Jose Rizal-class Frigates taking Shape

By the upcoming months, the project slowly unveils itself before anyone who waits for it where later it will find itself in service with the Philippine Navy, making it the first recently-produced active frigate in service once again after just recently regarding the Del Pilar-class vessels' downgrade of classifications. So, that renders this vessel as an essential combatant of the Philippine Navy, being more armed than its peers currently in service.

OVERVIEW

The ship's design is presented in ADAS 2018. Image obtained via
Wikimedia Commons.

The Philippine Navy for the next couple of months is set to have these brand new frigates which as of this article posting is being built in South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard where it will mark the first for the fleet to have a better-armed vessel as compared to the ones it obtains currently in service.

Take note that the fleet just recently downgraded the classification of the Del Pilar-class vessels from Frigates down to Offshore Patrol Vessels or OPVs, given its lack of capability in terms of anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-air operations. This leaves the Navy having zero frigates in service as of the present date until the entry of these ships from South Korea into the fleet.

Hence, the current setup provides good and not-so-good outputs with regards to the capability of the fleet in terms of carrying out its mandate in protecting the country, being a maritime nation in geographical setup, against threats that have originated from the sea. Nevertheless, the Jose Rizal ships still provide that hopes and dreams, somewhat in a way that it is being built with the weapons it needs to be classified as a Frigate.

Given these updates, the ships have taken shape since the steel cutting ceremony that took place last year where the Frigates in its actual size slowly unveils itself to each enthusiast that keeps tabs about its progress.

Within this month, the leading ship of the class BRP Jose Rizal will be delivered in the country from its manufacturer Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea. From there, we will now witness the unveiling of what is to be the most capable naval combatant warship that is ever in the Philippine Navy Service.

TIMELINE

The perspective image of what the BRP Jose Rizal looks like in the
Philippine waters. Image rendition made by PDA Contributor
Jun Gonzales.

This portion of the article will be providing inputs from across cyberspace to provide an idealistic library that leads to the creation of these South Korean-made vessels for the Philippine Navy. Take note that with this form of a presentation we can provide you a story-telling basis in the making of this project, the first of the big-ticket projects under the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

The whole plan started when the Republic Act 10349 or the Revised AFP Modernization Program was enacted way back year 2013 where the law extends the provisions slated in the previous R.A. 7898 or the 1995 AFP Modernization Program which at that time has already lapsed. 

This paves the way on the various Horizons in which the respective service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines started to create with respective big-ticket projects being slated to its respective Horizon as desired on the plans of having a minimum credible deterrence or defense posture.

This was started when the Philippine Navy leadership is looking for a Frigate that will surely pack that firepower which provides the deterrence that the country needs in the limelight of the Scarborough Shoal incident of 2012. 

At that time, the Italian Maestrale-class Frigates were provided on the table wherein the Department of National Defense and the Italian government negotiated on the terms and conditions that were provided at that time until the very last moment where the Philippine side decided to pull out from the deal altogether and instead opting to buy newly-produced frigates which will be done under the bidding process with the budget pre-determined by the end-user with different areas of technical aspects of this vessel being considered upon. 

By no surprise, the Italian side is pissed from the last-minute decisions that were made at that time wherein the idea of pursuing the Maestrale deal once again seems to be slim, even if this is taken in the current context.

From here, the path is set for the Philippine Navy to procure at least two brand new frigates which will be done through bidding as required under Republic Act. 9184 or the Procurement Law. Take note that the process that undertook this project covers a significant period where it covers eight years from proposals down to the delivery of the final products as well as it covered two administrations in which both deserves commendation, as well as the people who are significantly doing their job behind the scenes.

A year later, prospective bidders emerge and get up to the competition of grabbing the Contract which at that time amounted to 18 Billion Pesos. Participants include the Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia with its Avante 2400 Frigate, South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries with its Incheon-class Frigate derivative, India's Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineering with its Kamorta-class derivative opted for Philippine Navy specifications as well as with other South Korean shipbuilding companies which are the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) and STX Offshore and Shipbuilding Co which is the subsidiary of STX France S.A.

From there, it was known that India's Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineering (GRSE) became the lowest bidder of the project, although the awarding of the contract wen to the second-lowest and yet the most responsive bidder of the project which is the Hyundai Heavy Industries or HHI as the former failed the post-qualification requirements.

UNDERSTANDING THE COMPANY - HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES

HHI is one of South Korea's notable shipbuilding companies, catering
to both military and civilian customers. Image Source.

Being the winner of all of the proponents for the Frigate Acquisition Project, let us discuss in details with regards to this shipbuilding company in South Korea wherein aside from it is one of those companies that comprise the South Korean shipbuilding industry, it is also the one who bagged the contract which they made the Jose Rizal-class Frigates into fruition.

The Hyundai Heavy Industries is currently based on South Korea's Ulsan Shipyard wherein its construction was initiated in 1972 and was completed two years later in 1974, delivering 2,000+ ships of various types since its inception ranging from large, commercial vessels to military platforms ranging from combat vessels like Frigates and Destroyers to support ships with most of those intended to the South Korean Navy.

With a lot of tonnages that the shipyard produces especially with its production of civilian platforms like bulk carriers, cargo ships, car carriers, and even offshore oil rigs, this shipbuilding company obtains a firm record of experience on its expertise in shipbuilding which earned its reputation within South Korea's shipbuilding industry in which it contributes a lot for the country's economy.

Specifically building warships for the South Korean Navy, Hyundai Heavy Industries has built vessels which are comprising of various classes of combatant platforms like the lead ship of the King Sejong the Great-class Destroyers, several Daegu and Incheon-class Frigates, old vessels like the Pohang-class Corvettes as well as support vessels like the Cheonwangbong-class Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs).

Aside from the South Korean Navy, the shipbuilding company also successfully delivered its support platform to New Zealand which came in the form of a Supply Ship named the RNZNS (Royal New Zealand Navy Ship) AOR Aotearoa, an Auxillary Oil Replenishment designed to provide extra oil replenishment at sea, much like an offshore gas station for New Zealand's deployment of its warships outside the country.

With this type of customers that Hyundai Heavy Industries catered from military-based ones to civilian-typed ones, it obtains a lot of potentials for the company to grow more, although its production of ships may depend on the global economy which, on the recent report that was provided, is seemingly slowing down.

It is with this company that they produced the new, ever-capable warships that the Philippine Navy aspires for wherein it may be considered as the most powerful vessel that the organization will obtain once it will be delivered and accepted, although it is still far from the capabilities that the navies of neighboring countries have such as those in Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and most of all, China.

MORE ON ITS SPECIFICATIONS

The finalized specifications of the Jose Rizal-class Frigates.

To know more regarding the finalized specifications of the Jose Rizal-class Frigates with the components provided as seen as above, as well as the ones covered under the "Fitted For But Not With" category, it is preferable to see it in detail on our article that was written May 2018 entitled "The Final Specifications of the New Philippine Frigates".

For this article discussion, it is worthy to focus on a single, particular component of the frigate that serves as an encrypted communications suite which helps communicate with the other units on the battlefield in real-time and with up-to-date information that is crucial for the decision making of the higher echelons of the military that determines the outcome of a battle or a war.

This component is referred to the Tactical Data Link that the Jose Rizal-class Frigates will be having especially that these features for these highly-sophisticated combat vessels of the Philippine Navy will be provided by another South Korean defense company who is also responsible for the production of the warship's Combat Management Systems that serve as the brains that interconnect the subsystems fitted onboard.

Currently, the Frigates will be fitted with a Link-P Tactical Data Link which in itself is a derivative of the Korean-developed Link-K Tactical Data Link and with the manufacturer's promise of having it compatible with the Tactical Link-16 that the Philippine Navy desired by the year 2019 with no certainties with regards to this development given that this has already lapsed from the date of this article's publishing date.

Let it be known that the technology and standards that form the Tactical Data Link-16 were developed in the mid-1970s through the U.S. JTIDS Program where it is fitted onboard NATO-Operated AWACS or Airborne Warning and Control System and ground control systems through the larger class 1 terminals, and eventually onboard fighter aircraft such as F-14s and F-15s through their class 2 terminals and eventually with the MIDS program (abbreviated for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System) which is a lightweight terminal intended for NATO allies and smaller U.S. aircraft such as the F-16.

With the communications suite that the ships will be fitted on, there is this uncertainty on the Link-P Tactical Data Link that the South Koreans are offering on the Philippine Navy ships wherein their assurance on its compatibility with the Link-16 are actually showing more concerns, especially that such communications kit is considered more of an untested prototype.

Despite these things, there may still be hope for this additional feature onboard the ships given the details that the South Koreans are in the process of integrating the Link-16 Tactical Data Links onboard its serviceable FA-50s which is also in active service with the Philippine Air Force, although the doubt still remains on the communication suite's compatibility with the Combat Management System fitted onboard the ships.

GETTING IN SHAPE

The Jose Rizal-class Frigates BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and
BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) on Hyundai Heavy Industry's Ulsan Shipyard.
Obtained via Google Earth, dated August 5, 2019.

Spanning from the first steel cutting of the ships up to the present, both ships of the same class are getting significant progress as it takes its shape and form which gives an insight on its structure as seen on realistic detail, while also getting an idea regarding its future service within the Philippine fleet with its corresponding subsystems fitted.

On the image provided above, it is known that the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) was launched on May 23, 2019, which is why it is seen on the water, docking and doing some refit work while the BRP Antonio Luna was launched six months later, on November 8, 2019. The map image provided was dated August 5, 2019.

Some recent developments regarding the ships involve sea trials that determine its limitations regarding its speed, sea state survivability, maneuverability, and others that measure its performance which goes satisfactorily completed as far as their assessments are concerned.

The BRP Jose Rizal is being prepared for sea trials.
(c) Philippine Navy

These steps that the ships partake are something that will assure their role within the fleet upon its acceptance especially with the Philippine Navy getting its older ships decommissioned which is meant to pave way for more new and sophisticated ones like the Jose Rizal-class Frigates.

It is with these steps that the organization is improving a bit more, although more projects in the Philippine Navy's pipeline which as just as essential as this one such as the FAIC-M or the Fast Attack Interdiction Craft - Missile, Philippine Navy corvettes which are basically the Flight 2 of this class of ship, and the Offshore Patrol Vessels which may be produced from a shipyard owned by an Australian company.

The prospective dates of the ship's delivery will take place this year, ranging from the second quarter down to the last quarter of the year which may help provide the navy some supplanted platforms to patrol the waters amidst the prospective retirement of its older vessels which may appropriately be done with replacements beforehand.

DEVELOPMENTS AND MILESTONES

The Keel Laying of the BRP Jose Rizal took place on October 16, 2018
which was launched into the water six months later. 
Image from the Philippine Navy.

Things will not be complete without detailing the developments that the ship has undertaken from the signature of the contract up to the first steel cutting of the BRP Jose Rizal which took place five months before its first keel laying (see image above) on May 01, 2018, which followed up to its launching another six months later.

The progress between these milestones does show the speed that it took for the Hyundai Heavy Industries to produce the BRP Jose Rizal, to the extent that it may comply up to its delivery deadline which may take place on the second quarter of the year 2020, rendering it as the recent addition to the fleet to have until the second ship which is the BRP Antonio Luna will be delivered as well within the year.

Speaking of the BRP Antonio Luna, its steel cutting took place on September 17, 2018, which is four months after the first ship's keel laying with the same happened with this ship on the date that the BRP Jose Rizal launched to the water on May 13, 2019. This followed with its own launching to the water six months later as aforementioned.

Like the first ship before it, the BRP Antonio Luna also progressed on its milestones in a shorter period which may help the Hyundai Heavy Industries comply with its deadline wherein all of the ships may render active service by the year 2021, although it takes more time for the crew to make the warships fully operational just like in the case of its corresponding AW-159 Antisubmarine helicopters which is set to do just where it will go operational by November 2020.

These milestones are indicating the ship's manufacturing, systems testing, and performance trials get on its track although its firepower capabilities are currently being hampered by a simple fact that it has subsystems that may get procured, later on, embedding the idea of Fitted For But Not With which renders the ships a bit underpowered until it has these items integrated as well.

Nevertheless, only time will tell with regards to this development as there may still things that may happen along the way, although the idea of keeping the flag on the West Philippine Sea is still there as it goes with the speech of the Philippine Navy's new Flag Officer-In-Charge Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo where these ships may stand hope with the service branch's plans of decommissioning old ships on its fleet.

Such hopes of modernization also stand on other projects that the Philippine Navy has in the pipeline that were mentioned as these tools, along with the new Jose Rizal-class Frigates, provides the service branch the current capability it needs as it may get more sophisticated ones along the way shall things go preferable by Horizon 3 spanning from 2022 up to the year 2028.

TO SURMISE IT UP

Since the ships' first steel cutting, it recently takes shape as both of the vessels are now floating in the water from their respective launches in the year 2019 and is now currently undertaking various tests and sea trials which is to determine its performance measurements in correlation to the standards that the end-user sees on these vessels.

Speaking of standards, there is one gray area discussed especially on its communications suite subsystems like the Tactical Data Link 16 that is currently being utilized by the United States and allies under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO which is designed to deliver real-time data about the current situation of the battlefield.

Despite these potential shortcomings that may come with the vessels' subsystems, it is still worthy to take it as the most sophisticated vessel that the Philippine Navy will soon obtain as it is fitted with subsystems which are interconnected together by a Combat Management System which is the Hanwha Naval Shield ICMS as well as having weaponry on board that is not commonly available in the fleet with the BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39) being the stepping stone as it obtains weapons fit like torpedo tubes and sensors like sonar for anti-submarine operations.

With the plans of decommissioning older, legendary warships are being set by the service branch, it may go apparent that such ships such as the Jose Rizal-class Frigates or similar vessels which obtains better specifications and purpose are needed, with the necessary funding be prioritized as well as the projects that are set in the pipeline, as the purpose of procuring more assets go along with the capabilities that are needed in assuring protection of the country's vast territorial waters as well as providing a presence in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone such as the contested ones west of the country.

Overall, the Jose Rizal-class Frigates may be considered a significant headstart of the fleet's desire of modernizing itself for the better, which is currently in materialization since its first purchase of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15) way back in 2011 in which its sights are set on the Horizon especially for the Revised AFP Modernization Program's Horizon 3 (2022-2028) with more projects coming on its way to having the desired minimum defense posture that the country needs for national defense.

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How Really Important PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement is for the Philippine National Defense?

The Philippine-United States relations, through the years, are strong with the latter providing much for the country's national defense especially through the Cold War as well as to the present day with the spectrum of combat focusing more on eliminating terrorist threats.

And this relation came with recent strains in which one of those things that have caused this rift is centered on this particular agreement which involves the rotation of U.S troops within the country which is at risk as a result of a highly-political matter which will be less discussed on this article.

Pitz Defense Analysis note: This article is only with facts provided and supplanted with references highlighted in red which will be redirected to a specified link. It is better to read it in detail before making any violent reactions herein.

IN THE HEADLINES

Both the troops from the United States and the Philippines have
participated in exercises like those for KAMANDAG 3 as specified
in the image above. From DVIDSHUB.

The rift between the currently strong relationship between the United States and the Philippines recently went into the spotlight once more as reports provided the updated information regarding the revocation of the U.S. Visa on a certain Philippine Senator which have received the ire of the President and put the Visiting Forces Agreement between two nations at risk where it was first threatened to be scrap by the Administration, which in turn they intensify it up as they are working for it to end up, figuratively, in a trash heap.

This development came as the latest one coming from the administration in which they show discontent to the United States and its so-called intervention to other sovereign nations as what the naysayers were harping all along, which in itself is not surprising given that it is consistent by its nature from the things have been way back 2016, the year that the current administration rose to power.

Setting these highly-political details that may spark an argument on both sides of the equation aside, let it be known that the agreements that the Philippines currently have with the United States are essentials for both nation's national security and defense as both sides share their respective pieces of knowledge that mean a lot in interoperability and camaraderie between the both nation's Armed Forces.

And with this discussion came the necessity of providing the required learning especially that this topic which involves national defense matters between the country and its closest ally, in a sense that more knowledge is required to be provided to dismiss any misinterpretations or misunderstanding of the context dealing with these agreements forged by both sides.

So, let us take it deeper as it will be worthy to understand it up in detail regarding the agreement, its correlation to the US-Philippine relations as well as with the latter's national defense ranging from external defense down to counterterrorist operations that takes place in the country. 

Before proceeding, we kindly encourage you to read this article: "What It Means to be a Treaty Ally?" written May 13, 2018.

KNOWING THE PH-US VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT

A United States Coast Guard vessel and the BRP Andres Bonifacio
participated in 2019's Maritime Training Activity "Sama-Sama".
Obtained via DVIDSHUB.

To understand in detail regarding the United States-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement, let us provide information here bit-by-bit to provide ourselves the idea of what is this thing is all about especially on joint military exercises as well as on the relations of both countries as a whole.

Ratified by the Philippine Senate in 1999 at the turn of the century, the Visiting Forces Agreement aims to promote defense cooperation between two closest allies as well as providing the Armed Forces of the Philippines the boost it needs in terms of providing external defense.

This agreement in itself is interdependent to the previous undertakings between the Philippines and the United States such as the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty in which it was ratified back then to get into each other's help especially in case of an armed attack that took place between each other's territories as well as providing that portion of defense in the Pacific region.

It is with these agreements that the Philippines received its boost in terms of military capability and national defense wherein the United States provided things for the country to cope with the past and present spectrum of the combat environment especially with the present incursions that China has in the West Philippine Sea (which the United States show defiance through Freedom of Navigation Patrols) and counterterrorism operations that they provide the tools particularly the ones that involve surveillance.

Read more:  "The U.S. Drones In Zamboanga City and the Philippine UAV Programs", written March 31, 2019.

With the Armed Forces of the Philippines undertaking its recent Modernization Program with respective projects distributed across the three military branches that it encompasses, one may have the idea that having these agreements with the United States helps augment the military's current shortcomings in its capabilities which is slowly being materialized.

As far as military capabilities are concerned, the United States is helping the Philippine and it's military through JUSMAG which provides the training, logistics, and advices that the Armed Forces will take with regards to how will it improve its capabilities as well as be updated with the latest intelligence particularly the ones that pose a threat for the country's national security and defense.

So, the Philippines as far as things are concerned is benefiting from this kind of help from the United States especially through this deal that the Philippine Armed Forces receives the support it needs to be an improved organization that goes along with its mandate of defending the country which is also essential to the security of the Asia-Pacific region, in line with terms that both nations have under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

EXAMPLES OF ITS IMPORTANCE

The United States provided firearms for the Armed Forces of
the Philippines to have in improving its capabilities.
Image Source.

Many examples show the importance of the Visiting Forces Agreement that exists between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America, wherein one of those things involves providing new firearms to the Armed Forces of the Philippines such as the one provided in the image above.

Another example is with Marawi Siege as the United States Armed Forces provided their Philippine Counterparts advisory and technical support while the latter is doing all the fight on the ground with all of those inputs provided on their plans which attains their objectives in line with counter-terrorism operations of the agreement.

That support is further provided with many exercises that the Philippines have with the United States, especially with bilateral military activities like the annual Exercise Kamandag and Maritime Training Activity Sama-Sama, as it bolsters interoperability and camaraderie between the personnel of both of the country's Armed Forces.

Aside from military-related activities such as the aforementioned exercises and support for technical and advisory matters, the agreement actually allowed the United States to provide all of the support it needs especially with regards to the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) situations wherein the Armed Forces badly needs logistics chain to support the citizens affected by natural calamities such as those who survived the onslaught of the 2013 Supertyphoon Haiyan or locally known as Yolanda.

It was on those tormenting, difficult times that the United States immediately provided help to the Philippines where there are no countries who have managed to make such a rapid response, given that the agreement allowed them to send troops and supplies for the affected ones to have in need especially on basic necessities.

Ultimately, the agreement helps the Philippines in deterring the current situation in the West Philippine Sea where aside from the support they provided, the United States is also active in countering Chinese hegemony with the freedom of navigation patrols they conducted as being against China's desire to dominate the whole South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) is something that the Philippines indirectly benefited.

These proofs are just showing that the Visiting Forces Agreement is something that both sides benefit from as the primary aim is to provide that defense posture with the Philippines having the support from the closest ally while getting itself armed for the better through the Revised AFP Modernization Program (R.A. 10349).

CHINA'S GAIN AND THE AGREEMENT'S CORRELATION TO THE OTHER U.S. AGREEMENTS LIKE THE MUTUAL DEFENSE TREATY AND EDCA

Female Chinese troops marching in Tiananmen Square during
the 70th Founding Anniversary of the People's Republic.
(c) AFP

The revocation of the Visiting Forces Agreement benefits China more than what the Philippines and the United States see, given the proofs that signify its importance as both sides benefit from the agreement which is primarily centered on providing support, especially on external defense and counterterrorism matters.

This is what the ex-envoy of the Philippines to the United States warned in which it goes in line with the examples provided in the article where it will definitely affect the country's resolve in its counter-terrorism efforts as well as on the country's efforts to keep the West Philippine Sea in check, particularly the activities that China has over its outposts, its ships deployed there and proxies like the Maritime Militia.

Furthermore, the scrapping of the agreement as well as the status of the already-weak Armed Forces of the Philippines against a regional power like China, it will be not surprising for the Chinese to grab the opportunity in emboldening and getting firm on their claims over the whole West Philippine Sea, making things difficult for the country to stand on its own without any support from a stronger ally like the United States.

While the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA will not be included in the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement, the recent stain between the Philippines and the United States still endanger these other two agreements that forged ties between the two nations as these agreements are interdependent one after the other and it will not be that far that the United States may do the same in scrapping these said two other agreements as they were incurring operational expenses such as in the case under EDCA as they are deployed in various Philippine bases across the country.

Then, the proposals made on tapping Russia and China as opposed to the U.S. in doing defense stuff that the United States covered under the Visiting Forces Agreement is in itself an absurd thing especially with China which is the very nation that encroaches on the country's domain in the West Philippine Sea, reinforcing the idea of the agreement's revocation working on benefits for the Chinese to have.

These developments seem to be working against what one sees as a fundamental of protecting the country from a neighbor that aspires one's backyard and its rich resources while getting on fostering ties on such a neighbor, setting aside the things that are seen as the thing that in line with the country's supposed interests.

Nevertheless, only time will tell regarding the outcome of the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement and its implications in which it goes with the very defense posture that the Philippines desire has given that its existence provides that much a benefit as proven for the country's deterrence from external threats, counter-terror efforts and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN

The members of both Philippine and United States Air Force in photo-op
after 2019's Bilateral Air Contingent Exercises Philippines or BACE-P.
Image by SSgt Anthony Small, via DVIDSHUB.

The status and development over this portion of the Philippine-United States relations is something that is to be tested in time as both countries have the strongest ties between each other since the country's Independence in 1946 from the country that is seen today as an ally.

This pursuance for the revocation of the Visiting Forces Agreement is seen as the worse one since 2016 when President Duterte rose to power and the idea behind this proposal arose on the reasons that the United States apparently put the funding on hold for the country's anti-poverty projects.

On this proposal, one has indicated the impact of its revocation that may affect the commitment of the United States in deterring the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea as there will be no Philippine territory for the ships to dock in as this agreement is anchored to the country's national security as well as to its continuous obligations that are covered on other agreements such as the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Despite the current political headwinds, there still is hope that the country's military establishment is working on its best efforts to keep the agreement from falling apart or to save what they can from its revocation especially with the fact that the Armed Forces is benefiting more on subject matter exchanges and interoperability exercises with their counterparts.

In the end, it is worth to see what's in store for the country's defense posture for the years to come especially that the alliance between the Philippines and the United States is as just as important as the country's Modernization Efforts in which these setups are essential for the deterrence that the whole nation needs in countering both external threats like China and counterterrorism in which the agreements in a place like the Visiting Forces Agreement is something that shows its importance for the security and defense in the region.

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