Knowing the Philippine Air Force's Donated AH-1S Helicopters from Jordan

The Philippine Air Force through the years is relying on its light attack helicopters such as the MG-520 and the recently-purchased AW-109 helicopters in order to conduct a Close Air Support strike against the enemy alongside fix-wing aircraft such as the OV-10 Bronco (which will be augmented with A-29 Super Tucano) and at some instances the KAI FA-50PH where it performs its Close Air Support capabilities in Mindanao recently. 

The organization is about to have its first fully-capable dedicated attack helicopter that will do its job more than what the light attack helicopters will offer alongside fix-wing aircraft doing precision targeting of munitions.

OVERVIEW

This is the U.S. Marine Bell AH-1W Super Cobra that participated
in 2014 Balikatan Exercises. The Philippine Air Force is set to have
the AH-1F variant from Jordan which was donated.

The Philippine Air Force at the current date is about to receive its dedicated attack helicopter which is considered the first one for the organization to have, especially with its current rotary aircraft fleet composing primarily of Combat Utility Helicopter transports, if not light attack/surveillance ones.

Such an attack helicopter helps the Air Force improve its Close Air Support Capabilities which support the Armed Forces of the Philippines' counter-insurgency operations that aims to eliminate if not dwindle the influence and threat that terrorist groups such as the country's Communists and Moro Radicals in the South that they inflict on the nation's law and order.

This attack helicopter will be provided from the donations made by a Middle Eastern country that disposes of its own military hardware for more modern ones. This provides the Philippine Air Force to have an opportunity getting these units as it goes to the organization's desire to Modernize its forces better under its existing Flight Plan initiative which gets along with the greater Revised AFP Modernization Program or the Republic Act 10349 where the organization aspires to have better tools for minimal deterrence use which the role range from Close Air Support for Counterinsurgency (COIN) operations and immediate logistics transport in both combative and noncombative scenarios to territorial defense that require usage of Ground-based air defense systems, radar detection systems and utilization of Multirole aircraft (MRF) for air intercept.

Take note that this is different from the Philippine Air Force's on-going Attack Helicopter Acquisition Program which is currently favoring Turkish Aerospace Industries' T-129 "ATAK" Attack Helicopter while its closest competitor is another variant of what will be discussed in this article which in itself is also second-hand hardware.

This discussion will be tackling about the donated ex-Jordanian Air Force AH-1S "Tzefa" attack helicopters which in itself is a second-hand equipment Jordan obtained from Israel which comes to no surprise regarding its variant. Latest reports provided that it will be delivered next year given with delays which will be included in this topic.

THE COMMONALITIES that define AH-1's close relationship with its UH-1 Huey cousin.

The Philippine Air Force obtains a handful of these Vietnam-era designed
Combat Utility Helicopters. Obtained via Wikimedia Commons.

Here is an important note with regards to the development of the AH-1 Hueys during that time - it comes like an armed companion of the UH-1 Iroquois or Huey Helicopters where both of these rotary aircraft platforms were first produced in the 1960s - the time that Vietnam war gets more of a topic.

Speaking of the Vietnam war, both of these platforms sought action on a conflict that the United States increasingly getting involved in, wherein these helicopters help provide the resources and firepower for the U.S. troops in the battlezone to continue fighting until they eventually pulling out of the country which results to the downfall of Saigon and South Vietnam and an ultimate communist North Vietnamese victory. 

The harsh battle in Vietnam, with all of its nastiness, provides an insight regarding the  overall capabilities that both the UH-1 Huey and its cousin the AH-1 Cobra obtains where the helicopters' performance is much useful to the extent that countries such as the Philippines where it's Air Force still utilizing a number of UH-1s in its inventory even at the present date. 

To take note, the Philippine Air Force even obtains the modernized version derived from the UH-1 which is the four-bladed Bell 412 Combat Utility Helicopter which, like the UH-1s are also in active service at the current date. This modernized helicopter should be increased its units more, but such plans were abandoned due to some political tensions which prompted the service branch to go for the Sikorsky's S-70i Blackhawk Helicopters instead.

It comes to no surprise on the fact that both helicopters shared the same components which in itself benefits the end-user in terms of streamlining the logistics chain of spare parts and its compatibility when applied between platforms where it goes related to the helicopters' maintenance and operations. 

This is at no doubt the rationale behind several of the Philippine Air Force personnel to why they opted more for second-hand AH-1W helicopters instead of brand new yet CAATSA-threatening T-129 "ATAK" helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industries or TAI.

From here, there goes a bit of a blessing on the Philippine Air Force's end regarding the donated AH-1 Helicopters from Jordan wherein its components along with its capabilities are something already familiar to its personnel given the widespread use of its UH-1 Combat Utility Helicopter cousin within the organization. 

Despite that, it is worth to take note that operating an attack helicopter and a combat utility one is different in nature so training and practice are needed as part of the turnover despite the commonalities. Talking about these essential things, there is something to take note of its delivery date.

THERE ARE DELAYS WITH ITS DELIVERY DATE

A Pakistani Army AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter flies over Kund mountain near
Kotkai village in South Waziristan on October 29, 2009. Image Source.

Here is an example that provides the difference between the AH-1 Cobras from the UH-1 Hueys in service wherein this attack helicopter, like any new assets that are being introduced to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, requires the preparation of honing more skills in operations which is essential to utilize the asset to its highest possible potential.

On this news report, the delivery of the AH-1F/S Attack Helicopter variants from Jordan may take more time where the time window provided herein is estimated to, at least 2 months. It comes at no surprise as there are apparent delays to the Philippine Air Force's end in sending both pilots and ground crew to Jordan for the training required in operating and maintaining these newly-introduced assets in the organization.

By having these kinds of training provided for both the pilots and ground crew, it may go much simpler with more benefits to the Philippine Air Force if the option of the Attack Helicopter Acquisition Program goes to the second-hand AH-1 Whiskey variant Cobra Attack Helicopters instead of the CAATSA-ridden Turkish Aerospace Industries T-129 ATAK Helicopters where the chances of its subcomponents being blocked by the United States is a bit higher that there is the risk of delivery delays on the end-user or hampering any after support services. 

Having two different platforms ideally may complicate the logistics chain and the interoperability between assets may hamper a bit given the difference of components that come up in a certain rotary-aircraft platform. 

Speaking of interoperability, there is something regarding the variant that the Jordanians provided to the Philippine Air Force which goes compatible aside from the already-discussed UH-1 Hueys and the common attributes regarding the manufacturer of these helicopters. This compatibility comes in the form of weapons fit and composition which originates from the original owners of these Attack Helicopters in a form of Jordan's Southwest Neighbor.

THE ISRAELI AH-1S TZEFAS

The AH-1 helicopters that the Jordanians donated were in fact,
AH-1S Tzefas that were once part of the Israeli Defense Force.
Image Source. 

Let it be known to everyone with regards to some of the Jordanian AH-1 Cobras that are obtained in its fleet - some of these attack helicopters were transferred to Jordan from Israel as part of the efforts being made that is for counter-terrorist operations given the ever-increasing threat of the Islamic State on the region during that time.

With these benefits obtaining between neighbors that aims for that ultimate goal of ensuring better security and stability of these highly-volatile part of the world, it is ascertained that these dedicated attack helicopters may have its weapons fit capable of carrying Israeli-made munitions where the Armed Forces of the Philippines already obtain some of it, fitted on the Philippine Navy's Multipurpose Attack Crafts and air units such as the Leonardo AW-159 Antisubmarine Helicopters. 

Such munitions referred here are the RAFAEL SPIKE missiles where both variants - SPIKE ER and SPIKE NLOS are both in service within the AFP through the Navy and it will not be that long for such compatibility to take place shall the Philippine Air Force opts to obtain these munitions for these attack helicopters to have for more firepower capacity especially when needed for close air support operation where these guided munitions can be fired precisely on target that significantly increases the overall effectiveness of its performance which may impact the overall outcome of a combat. 

These attack helicopters in Israeli service are reputable enough that it served the country for 20 years and participated in combat areas like in Lebanon before several of it getting transferred to other countries such as its neighbor Jordan to combat IS threat. The specifications are provided as follows, from the Israeli Air Force itself.

To see it clearer, click this image to enlarge.

Additional information (reference):

Service ceiling - 12,000 feet
Cruising speed - 140 knots
Maximum speed - 149 knots (172 mph / 277 km/h)
Combat radius - 172 km (93 km at 140 knots)
Maximum range - 574 km (310 nm)
Endurance - 2+15 hours (400 liters/h).

It is worth notable that from the first model of the chopper - the AH-1G which was purchased in large numbers by the US Army and played a prominent role in Vietnam down to the first Israeli purchase of this dedicated attack helicopter as resulted from assessments made over the Yom Kippur War, having these helicopters are something that will definitely add more capability and firepower for the Philippine Air Force's 15th Strike Wing.

THE FUTURE OF COMBAT CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

For the Philippine Air Force's 15th Strike Wing, it is getting a wide array of aircraft which will augment its existing assets such as the AW-109 and MG-520 Light Attack Helicopters, SF-260 and older OV-10 Bronco fixed-wing close air support aircraft.

With the delivery of AH-1S Tzefas from Jordan and also the delivery of the A-29 Super Tucano from Brazil, it is nice to know that the 15th Strike Wing will be getting more of such assets into its sleeves, which is something that will increase their firepower capability as well as to improve their overall capabilities and also effectiveness in providing Close Air Support operations for the ground troops in terms of conducting Counter-Insurgency (COIN) operations.

It is also nice to see regarding the development of the Attack Helicopter Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force where currently the preferred option provided on paper is the TAI T-129 "ATAK" Attack Helicopters from Turkey. 

While that procurement is in the works, there is the basis for several people within the organization to prefer the AH-1W Super Cobra variant that is also offered in lieu to the Turkish-made ones wherein aside from the risk of potential delays and also the potential reset to the project if CAATSA slapped on sanctioning subcomponents against the Turkish, aside from the fact that the donated Jordanian AH-1S paves the way for the Philippines to have such asset which is just worthy if more AH-1s will be provided given the commonalities and lessening stress in logistics in spares and complexities in trainings and activities related to an asset's operations and maintenance. 

All that it takes now is to witness the developments being made to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and its desire to modernize itself up from organization down to facilities for the years to come where it is about to take more transformation to become a better agency within the Department of National Defense whereby the time things are set in the year 2028 as the Third Horizon of the Revised AFP Modernization Program completes, the country sees an Armed Forces providing minimum credible defense posture that safeguards the country, its citizenry and its national interest.

(c) 2019 PDA, 2023 first edition.

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The Pohang-class Corvette BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30)

The Philippine Navy is set to have another vessel from South Korea which does not pertain to the new builds that were categorized as the Jose Rizal-class Frigates. This article pertains to a vessel, once in service with the Republic of Korea Navy, gets its way to the Navy inventory which in itself is a plus to the capabilities that this service branch needs to keep up to its operations.

OVERVIEW

This was formerly known as the ROKS Chungju (PCC-762).
Obtained from the Inquirer.net page.

The BRP Conrado Yap as provided in multiple media outlets is considered the recent addition that the Philippine undertakes on its desire to modernize its fleet further as part of the organization's Sail Plan initiative where other projects include the Jose Rizal-class Frigates and perhaps the on-going plans on submarine procurement wherein the latest preferred supplier may come from the country of France in Europe.

Apparently, it is considered the most capable ship that the Philippine Navy obtains as of the current date wherein it obtains the military weaponry that other vessels including the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels do not obtain. Hence, its current designation as a key Philippine Navy flagship isn't that surprising at all given its weapons-packed firepower that defines its capability.

Still, then, one may be said that it is still a far cry to the necessary requirements that the Philippine Navy needs on a fleet but nevertheless, obtaining them may serve as a plus now that the service branch is at a phase of having several of its World War 2 vessels putting into decommissioning, effectively having these ships out of service.

Apparently, its arriving ceremony was just commenced recently, August 20, 2019, where guests such as the Defense Secretary Mr. Delfin Lorenzana attended the event in the Port of Manila. For everyone's knowledge, the ship was named after the late Army Capt. Conrado Yap who died for defending the country's belief on freedom and democracy during the Korean War which spared the peninsula from being engulfed entirely by Communism led by then-leader Kim Il Sung.

Since this is considered the most capable ship as of the current date, it is worth to discuss regarding its previous designation within the South Korean Navy, its capabilities, the history of its development, and the plans that both the Philippine Navy and the South Korean government have in connection to the Pohang-class Corvettes obtained.

FORMERLY THE ROKS CHUNGJU (PCC-762)

Before the transfer to the Philippine Navy, BRP Conrado Yap
was once called as the ROKS Chungju (PCC-762). Obtained thru
Wikimedia Commons.

Before it entered service within the Philippine Navy as the BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30), it was once served most of its serviceable life within the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) as the Republic of Korea Ship (ROKS) Chungju (PCC-762). 

Along with the ships of its class, the ship serves as a mainstay platform for the South Korean Navy to patrol the seas especially the country facing another confrontation against its Northern Neighbor given that the Korean War is still being played up to the present day, only that both sides have agreed on what is seen is the longest ceasefire to date.

ROKS Chungju is a Flight III Pohang-class Corvette which is a later version of the vessel as opposed to the Flight II versions of the ship that includes the previously-considered ROKS Mokpo (PCC-759) which will discuss along with this writeup. The Pohang-class Flight III setup comes with the following ships:

Click the image to enlarge.
References: [1],[2],[3]

As we can see, the other nations that possess the other Flight III Pohang-class Corvettes are the countries Vietnam and Egypt. The former obtains the ROKS Gimcheon (PCC-761) now known as the HQ-18 Corvette and ROKS Yeosu (PCC-765) now known as the HQ-20 Corvette while the latter has the ROKS Jinju (PCC-763) now known as the ENS Shabab Misr.

There are still more Pohang-class Corvettes that are up for grabs wherein they are still in service within the South Korean Navy and replacements are to come along the way so as for the Koreans to replace the Pohangs altogether. In fact, it comes to the interest that the South Korean Government is willing to donate two more Pohang-class Corvettes to the Philippines, as such an idea is interesting in itself given that it follows the Navy's Rule of Three.

See more: Maintenance Concept with the rule of thirds, How Ideal is a 4th Hamilton Cutter in the Philippine Navy? - Pitz Defense Analysis (March 19, 2017)

The ROKS Chungju PCC-762 served well throughout its 29 years in service within the South Korean Navy until its retirement from service in 2016. It was not until three years later that the ship finds its new life with another Naval Force, with another set of the crew from a different nationality in another nation just across the Asia-Pacific region.

So, it is worth to see that obtaining it up provides a boost for the Philippine Navy's capabilities that it needs currently wherein the ship will augment the existing ones that the fleet obtains in patrolling the country's longest coastline and the territorial waters that surround the nation's archipelagic setup especially now that Chinese warships are now intruding within the waters outside their so-called nine-dash line claim.

THE WEAPONS AND SENSORS FIT

It will be a bit difficult to discuss regarding the ship's reputation as a most capable one within the Philippine Navy without taking consideration the weapons fit installed onboard the ship itself that makes it considered as such, not to mention the idea that obtaining them is more than what other ships obtains currently, including other main combat vessels available in the inventory such as the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels and Jacinto-class Patrol Corvettes.

76mm Oto Melara Main Primary Gun (2 units)

The main gun that key Philippine Navy ships utilized.
Obtained via Wikimedia Commons.

The BRP Conrado Yap, even way back to its ROKS Chungju days obtains a weapons fit of two 76mm Oto Melara Main Primary Gun both to its bow and stern portions of the ship, facing both forward and backward portions of the vessel respectively which goes reminiscent of the old gunship days with larger guns.

Obtaining such many main guns in an individual ship is something that the Navy obtains recently which goes differently from other vessels especially both the Del Pilar-class OPVs and Jacinto-class Patrol Corvettes also obtains such type of 76mm Oto Melara Guns, although it is limited to the bow portion of the ship which goes to the norm of fitting main guns on the current date. 

Take note also that the Jose Rizal-class Frigates will also obtain an advanced version of such a gun where the two aforementioned units in the Philippine Navy are also limited to the ones situated in the bow. By retaining it, the ship may obtain additional firepower in terms of obtaining such guns which is ideal for providing support upon the necessity of such a feature.

However, there is the possibility to have the stern 76mm gun to be dismantled to provide future space for the ship to fit with other weapons given also that there is only one main gun ideally fitted onboard the ship. 

Hence, such a possibility may mean having that the stern gun may go utilized as a training platform which is not that surprising given that the key Philippine Navy combat ships obtain such a gun for operations. Obtaining such a training platform may help personnel to acquire skills that are needed once getting onboard an active naval vessel. 

40mm OtoBreda Twin Gun (2 units)

The BRP Conrado Yap obtains two of such double-barrel Secondary Guns.
Obtained via Wikimedia Commons.

Aside from two 76mm Oto Melara Main Primary guns, the BRP Conrado Yap also obtains two 40mm OtoBreda twin Cannons which is considered by its manufacturer as a Close-In Weapons System or CIWS.

Its barrel consists of two Bofors 40mm/L70 gun which the Philippine Navy actually obtains in its inventory through an earlier version of it which is the Bofors 40mm/L60 gun that is currently fitted onboard most of the fleet's World War 2-era vessels like the Malvar-class and Rizal-class Offshore Patrol Vessels as well as to the older Landing Ship Tank platforms that the fleet currently obtains. 

So, it will not be much of a headache in terms of its usage except that the earlier L60 gun operates on a 40x311mmR ammunition carrier while the L70 operates on its own 40x364mmR ammunition carrier which didn't go accordingly in terms of compatibility. Not to mention also that the Bofors gun onboard an Oto Breda 40mm gun is operated differently than the usual 40mm guns that the Navy obtains which these guns come with other components that comes with the DARDO weapons systems package. 

Speaking of DARDO CIWS, the BRP Conrado Yap lacks the essential components such as the Selex (Leonardo) RTN-10X or Selenia (Leonardo) SPG-74 fire control radars and the RTN-20X fire control system that will provide a more effective use for the two OtoBreda twin Cannons fitted onboard. 

By such, these secondary guns may serve as its own platform in the same manner as the way it utilized when it was with the South Korean Navy unless there are proposals to upgrade it to a dedicated CIWS platform that can intercept incoming aerial threats that poses danger to the ship and its crew.

Mark 32 Triple Torpedo Tubes (2 units)

Manila - The NSSC Command Group headed by RADM ROMMEL JASON L GALANG AFP together with the team of Hull, Machinery, and Electrical (HME) and Weapons, Communications and Electronics (WCE) inspected the newly-acquired PN ship, BRP CONRADO YAP (PS39) earlier August 23.
Courtesy of Naval Sea Systems Command, Philippine Navy.

One of the significant weapons that definitely made the BRP Conrado Yap the most capable ship within the Philippine Navy as of the current date is its two Mark 32 Triple Torpedo Tubes which signifies one thing: The antisubmarine capabilities onboard an active Philippine Navy in a form of torpedo-carrying and firing it on targets is once again on the line.

See more: Knowing the South Korean K-745 Blue Shark Torpedoes in the Philippine Navy - PDA

With no surprise, the chances that it will be armed with K-745 Blue Shark Torpedoes is likely wherein the same type of underwater munitions is also about to find its way onboard the Jose Rizal-class Frigates. 

Speaking of Jose Rizal-class Frigates and its antisubmarine technology onboard the ships, naming the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), it is seen to be a nice idea for the Philippine Navy for making the BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30) as an effective training platform for the personnel who is soon to be assigned to the newer ships being built in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries given that aside from it is originated from the same nation the Jose Rizal-class Frigates being built, the chances of having a similar form of torpedoes (out of smoothening logistics chain up) will be likely to be utilized where there is the sense of familiarization on the skills that will be acquired along the process of training about antisubmarine warfare. 

That in which will help naval personnel familiarize and will eventually apply it in upon the delivery of the new frigates which there will be less of a hassle on operating the torpedo subcomponent, making it more efficient to the fleet's end.

So, it is a welcoming thing for the Philippine Navy as well as the Department of National Defense to obtain such a warship with dedicated torpedo tube platforms onboard, something which will help improve the fleet's capability in terms of eliminating targets like the ones that can be found underwater. Such torpedo armaments, however, will not be possible without the sensors which will detect it.

Signaal (Now Thales) PHS-32 Hull Mounted Sonar

This is how a Signaal PHS-32 Hull-Mounted Sonar looks like.
Image Source.

While the Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes serve as an arm of the BRP Conrado Yap that deals a striking blow against its intended target, the PHS-32 hull-mounted sonar meanwhile serves as its ears that scan underwater for threats like lurking submarines that is threatening to the country's national security especially on its geographic setup composing of an island group surrounded by water.

The PHS-32 hull-mounted sonar design fitted onboard is as old as the ships themselves, where it was primarily produced through the 1980s although it is being upgraded with its service life enhanced ever since. Here are some details about the hull-mounted sonar's performance:

Own doppler correction:       on all 60 beams
Target doppler speed measurement:       —40 to +40 kt
Notch filter:       0-15 kt adjustable
Number of range scales:       5
Range accuracy:       ±0.5 to 2 o of full-scale range
Range gate length:       1/6 of the range scale
Bearing accuracy:       1deg RMS
Vertical beam width:       12°120° with computer coordination of beam-width and transmitting pulse for rough weather conditions
Autotrack capability:       4 targets simultaneously

Time/bearing history (listen):       20 minutes

Like the Mark-32 triple torpedo tubes, obtaining a hull-mounted sonar onboard the BRP Conrado Yap may help provide the Navy as part of the training for naval personnel especially for the upgrades that the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels will be undertaken as well as on anticipating the delivery of the Jose Rizal-class Frigates which will obtain its own fitted hull-mounted sonar. 

Signaal (Now Thales) WM 28 Fire Control System

This is the Signaal WM 28 Fire Control System. We can see it as a
large white ball fitted on the Pohang-class Corvettes' mast.
Image Source.

The fire control system serves as a guiding sensor for a naval component onboard the BRP Conrado Yap such as the two 76mm Oto Melara Main Primary Gun to function accordingly with the assurance of effective accuracy in aiming against a surface target.

The WM 28 Fire Control System closely resembles the US-made Mark 92 Fire Control System which is itself derived from an earlier version of a Signaal (Now Thales) made Fire Control which is the WM 25 Fire Control System. 

Apparently, it is the Mark 92 Fire Control System that is fitted on all the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels currently in service with the Philippine Navy given that such weapons fit was provided way back to its previous service within the United States Coast Guard where such a system, like in the BRP Conrado Yap also provides a guiding sensor for the ex-cutters' 76 mm Oto Melara Main Primary Cannon that it obtains. 

With the experience made from the Del Pilar-class vessels utilizing the Mark 92 Fire Control System, it will not be much of a worry upon the utilization of the WM 28 Fire Control System, only with minor adjustments to be provided between the differences of both variants.

So, being a usual thing among all of the Pohang-class Corvettes, having the BRP Conrado Yap obtained will help the Philippine Navy more if two more Pohang-class Corvettes will be considered upon which will comply to the rules of three that are being practiced within the organization. 

THE ONCE ROKS MOKPO (PCC-759) OPTION

Before the ROKS Chungju was considered, there was this ship.
This is called the ROKS Mokpo (PCC-759), a Flight II Pohang-class
Corvette.

In connection to the inclusion of the BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30) into the Philippine Navy as part of the South Korean donation, it is also nice to discuss the developments that have come to the transfer of what was once called the ROKS Chungju where there is another ship that was considered at one point.

Entering the picture is the older ROKS Mokpo (PCC-759) which belongs to the earlier Flight II portion of the Pohang-class Corvette composition within the Republic of the Korean Navy. Such a flight development fits between the Flight I of Corvettes known as the Donghae-class Corvettes (which in itself is the earlier version of the Pohang-class Corvette while sharing the similar design on the ships' hull) and the Flight III which introduces a lot of improvements from the previous one and also the Flight where the current BRP Conrado Yap belonged to.

At one point, the Philippine Navy considered this ship for acquisition that there is even an Invitation to Bid dated back 2016 that is related to its maintenance and spare parts hulk.

Click this image for clearer information.

At that time that such a piece of information was posted on a government procurement website like PhilGEPS, it then came to mind that the ROKS Mokpo may be seen as the probable naval asset provided by the South Korean Government for the Philippine Navy to have. As it turns out, this will not be the one that the Philippines is looking after.

On the post made by our fellow defense page on their article posted here, it has been assessed that the ROKS Mokpo was in poor condition and refurbishing it may be costly enough for the Philippine Navy to handle it for it to be functional and seaworthy. Not to mention that the Flight II variants of the Pohang which this ship belongs to are not the antisubmarine variant that the Navy looks for. So to no surprise, this offer was rejected down.

Apparently, to the making of this deal, the development for seeking a Pohang-class Corvette was started way back in 2011 only to be formalized in 2014 and eventually its product delivered five years later in 2019.

IN SUMMARY

The Philippine Navy is now getting itself more improved as more and more naval assets come in that goes in line to its desired Sail Plan initiative that aims to have a credible naval force that operates within the national jurisdiction where it safeguards the protection of the country's national interest at sea.

With the entry of BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30) to the fleet, the Navy is now getting its antisubmarine capabilities regained even further where it may serve as a training platform that is in itself an essential step for the fleet to have its personnel hone the skills.

Such skills are needed before an intended assignment into one of a future Philippine Navy ship such as a Jose Rizal-class Frigate or even on two additional Pohang-class Corvette as planned with similar facilities employed with the BRP Conrado Yap and eventually the future Corvette Acquisition Project that may obtain the same DNA as the Jose Rizal-class Frigates. 

Not to mention in this manner is the potential upgrades that the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels may have now that it is about to have one through Hanwha System where its Combat Management System, Hull-Mounted Sonar and Radio Electronic Support Measure as well as integrating existing subsystems onboard those ships. 

All with these things aim to have an effective antisubmarine force where it provides that capability to deter any potential submarine attack that may cripple the overall security of the country as well as its national interest with its geographic setup being an influencing factor.

Given these new developments, one may go ascertain that the Philippine Navy is growing its capabilities more along with the other military branches within the Armed Forces of the Philippines where all of these service branches share together the primary aim of having a minimum credible defense posture that the country needs in protecting its citizenry and national interest.

At the end of the day, the BRP Conrado Yap serves as another major step for the Philippine Navy to have where there will be more ships entering its fleet that provides similar or additional capabilities than what this ship, once named the ROKS Chungju having currently wherein like any other acquisition in the fleet, the ship will embody the crew that serves with it and the service branch they represent which they are keen on protecting the country's waters with more hulls to join up the fray and cope up to the instilled duties and responsibilities as the primary defenders of this beloved nation. 

==

Update 6-17-2024: The Philippine Navy recently changed the hull number designation of the BRP Conrado Yap from (PS-39) to (PS-30). Reflecting the change, this article also changed the hull number designation to its current form.

(c) 2019 PDA, first edition 2024.

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The Philippine Navy Fleet's 76mm Oto Melara Main Primary Guns

In the early days of World War 2-era vessels, the Philippine Navy's ships rely on manual guns to provide firepower that is needed in conducting its operations in which the naval personnel onboard man it up is a usual thing in that old time. At the current pace of modern technology being introduced in both military and civilian areas, it will be nice to discuss this very important main gun that the primary combatants of the Philippine Navy has currently.

DISCUSSION OVERVIEW

Here is the Image of the 76mm Oto Melara Main Gun onboard the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) in action.
 Image Source.

There have been discussions regarding individual military assets such as for the Combat Utility Helicopter Projects, Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels, and even the Army's M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers.

Speaking of the Philippine Navy, the discussion matter primarily focuses on capital ships which aside from the mentioned Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessel also includes the Tarlac-class Landing Platform Docks, the recently arrived BRP Conrado Yap which is a Pohang-class Corvette, and the Jose Rizal-class Frigates which are considered the most capable warship that is about to enter Philippine Navy service. 

However, there are few discussions made on familiar subsystems that are in itself fundamental to the fleet's overall firepower capability, which is usually to the Philippine Navy's primary combat ships. One of which deals on this topic as it delves primarily on the primary combat ships' primary gun which in itself is similar across the western-oriented navies such as those within the Philippine Navy. 

Such a weapons system that is commonplace, though it provides a significant indicator of how this service branch handles its logistics chain along with the sharing of technical expertise in between the personnel who have assigned on board the ships that maintain such a primary gun.

It goes so much that an idea for a GUNNEX has raised on a Philippine Defense Forum webpage wherein being an archipelagic nation that still relies too much on guns (until the entry of the Jose Rizal-class Frigates which introduces real anti-ship missile capabilities), the Navy fleet will showcase its guns as part of a commemorative event that took place on the Second World War which in itself was also fought with guns.

Hence, for the knowledge of everyone, having such a main gun like the 76mm Oto Melara Gun provides a primer on the Philippine Navy's capability of handling mid-sophisticated weaponry which in itself is a departure from the primarily manual-based guns that is fitted on most of the fleets' Second World War-era vessels. Operating and maintaining it has come a long way for such a capability to be perfected.

ON THE EARLY DAYS OF OTO MELARA GUN INTRODUCTION

The Jacinto-class Patrol Vessels is the first Philippine Navy ship in service that comes with the 76mm Oto MelaraGun, which was considered as a sophisticated weapons platform within the fleet in its time.
Image retrieved through Wikimedia Commons.

Way back 1997, the once-British Overseas Territory of Hong Kong was returned to the helm of the People's Republic of China as part of the deal which involves the expiration of the 99-year lease forged a century ago where the British gain it as part of its gains after the First Opium War with Imperialist China.

Along with that comes the disbandment of the British Royal Navy's Hong Kong squadron, which they were selling three Peacock-class Patrol Vessels that the Philippine Navy eventually obtains on a friendship price. Such vessels are now known within the fleet as the Jacinto-class Patrol Vessels (see image above).

The rest of the details are provided in this Joint Staff Command College Paper which was published almost two decades ago, in 2001. The details were provided as follows:

Although the Philippine Navy initiated the deal, it was not included in the PN Operating Program and Budget. Hence, its British crew haphazardly conducted the necessary training of both PN officers and enlisted men assigned to man the three ships. These three former British ships became the most modern ships in the Philippine Fleet although they are relatively obsolete compared to the standards of the most modern navies around the world.

The ships are not yet equipped with the missile system and an airborne CIC that would extend the effective ranges of its sensors and weapons beyond the horizon. Its main armament is 76-millimeter Oto-Melara gun equipped with a fire-control radar and an auto-reloading system. One man stationed at the console of the fire control radar is enough to operate and control the gun. All he had to do is just lock the fire-control radar on the target and push the button to fire the gun; then the gun will always point to the target wherever it goes, even if the ship is rolling or pitching due to big waves.

Unlike a similar armament aboard a World War II vintage ship, guns are manually loaded with ammunition, then manually point, train, and fire the gun to the target by a seven-man gun crew. The Oto Melara gun could fire about 30 times (or more) faster than a manually loaded gun, depending on the speed and teamwork of the gun crew. The real advantage here is the speed and accuracy of the Oto-Melara guns.

When one of the Oto-Melara guns encountered derangement one year after its acquisition, not a single person in the Philippine Navy knows how to put the gun back into operating condition. The Philippine Navy requested Australia to train PN personnel in conducting (a) repair on such types of guns.

When Australia acceded, the PN sent personnel with a rating of gunner’s mate to undergo the training. However, these gunner’s mates were sent back to the Philippines because they don’t know anything about electronics on which Oto Melara guns operate. So, the PN sent another batch of personnel with a rating of electronic technicians instead. The training lasted for two years then that will be the only time that the guns have (sic) been repaired.

Due to this incident, the PN was awakened and made aware [regarding] the state of readiness of our personnel towards modernization. The problem was only about the repair of a gun commonly used around the world yet, it gave an enormous headache to the PN. How much more if the problem was about (the) missile system and electronic countermeasure equipment?

Sad to say for the fleet, the issue persists by the dawn of the 21st Century where there are still struggles on the operations and maintenance made onboard the Jacinto-class PVs up to the purchase of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15) almost two decades after the JCPVs were commissioned to service. It was then until the delivery of BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) as demonstrated in this video here and a GUNNEX exercise between the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) and BRP Gregorio Del Pilar in Bataan that the importance and capability of the Oto Melara were showcased.

Hence, it is good to understand regarding the usefulness of the Oto Melara 76mm guns where it serves as a primary weapon currently by most combatant warships of the Philippine Navy. To discuss this further, let us tackle the development and other details about the gun, its manufacturer, its specifications, and the ships within the Navy that utilize it.

DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions of the 76mm/62 Gun developed by Oto Melara.
Image Courtesy.

As provided by several sources, the first production for the Compact Version of the 76mm/62 Oto Melara Guns started in 1963 which is still utilized up to the present day. The advanced version meanwhile, which is the faster-firing Super Rapid Gun was first produced in 1988, more than two decades later.

In the United States Navy and Coast Guard, its designation is more known as the Mark 75 - 76mm/62 Caliber Main Gun. The Oto Melara guns fitted in key US-made ships such as the Oliver Hazard Perry-class Frigates and the Hamilton-class High Endurance Cutters were produced by BAE Systems and General Electric Co with the design under license from Oto Melara itself. 

Such a composition provides Coast Guard ships such as the Hamilton-class WHECs to be modernized more under SLEP or Shelf Life Extension Program which benefits future owners such as the Philippine Navy eventually on considering such a ship that will form the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels. 

Other than the ones provided in the United States, the Compact version of the Oto Melara Main Gun is currently in use by various navies and coast guards, spanning at around 50 nations while the Super Rapid gun is about to introduce itself in several countries like the Philippines in the form of the Jose Rizal-class Frigates.

To the knowledge of everyone, here are some descriptive details regarding the 76mm/62 Oto Melara - both Compact and Super Rapid versions (source):

Technical data:
Caliber: 3 inches / 76,2 mm
Barrel length: 186 inches / 4,72 meters (= 62 caliber)
Weight: 7900kg, empty (Super Rapid)
Shell: 76 x 900 mm / 12,34 kilograms
Elevation: - 15° to + 85°
Traverse: 360°
Rate of fire: Compact: 85 rpm / Super Rapid: selectable from single shot up to 120 rpm
Muzzle Velocity: 925 m/s (1100 m/s - DART)
Magazine: Compact: 80 rounds / SR: 85 rounds

Range:
16 kilometers with standard ammunition
20 km with extended range ammunition
up to 40 km with VULCANO ammunition

Evolution:
- Compact
- Super Rapid
- Stealth casing
- DAVIDE/STRALES radiofrequency guidance system for DART guided ammunition

Ammunition:
- HE (high explosive) - 6,296kg / Range 16km / effective range 8km (4km vs. air targets at elev. 85°)
- MOM (multi-role OTO munition)
- PFF (pre-formed fragmentation) - anti-missile ammunition
- SAPOM (semi-armored piercing OTO munition) - 6,35kg / Range 16km
- SAPOMER (semi-armored piercing OTO munition, extended range) - Range 20km
- DART (driven ammunition reduced time of flight) - sub-calibre guided ammunition against multiple targets
               (missiles and maneuvering targets at sea) 4,2kg in barrel / 3,5kg in flight / 660mm lenght / effective range >8km

- VULCANO (76mm unguided and guided extended range ammunition) - under development

With the details provided, the future is even brighter for Leonardo (who now produces the Oto Melara Guns) and for the end-users of such a military weapon wherein developments are in place to improve the performance of the warships. Things such as the rate of fire are something that will be delivered by the newer Super Rapid gun which will help improve the overall firepower that will pack by a warship equipped by this gun under a shorter amount of time as compared to its older compact variants.

While such firepower is something that the 76mm/62 Oto Melara Guns provides that eliminates the threat posing against the warship, it will not be possible without the Fire Control System that will help improve its accuracy and effectiveness of each gunfire provided against the enemy.

THE EQUIPPED PHILIPPINE NAVY SHIPS AND ITS RESPECTIVE FIRE CONTROL SYSTEMS

The BRP Jose Rizal is fitted with an advanced version of the
76mm Oto Melara which is the Super Rapid Gun. Add to that,
the SELEX EX NA-25X Fire Control Radar serves as the
sensors of the main gun. Image pulled from Imgur.

Several Philippine Navy ships, especially the recently-purchased ones, obtain a 76mm/62 Oto Melara Gun on its bow or two units of it as in the case of the BRP Conrado Yap which is a Pohang-class Corvette from South Korea. Each of these has its own setup in terms of having fire control systems in which it varies from the origin of the ship as well as on the terms of the contract like in the case of the Jose Rizal-class Frigates.

Jose Rizal-class Frigates (2 units)
FCS: SELEX EX NA-25x Fire Control Radar

The Jose Rizal-class Frigates consist of two ships belonging to this class - BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151). It will be the most advanced Philippine Navy ships in service once entered into service from its delivery from South Korea that it will obtain both a more sophisticated 76mm Main Gun (Oto Melara Super Rapid Gun) and an NA-25X Fire Control Radar made by Leonardo who is also the one behind the production of the main gun.

Both the main gun and the fire control radar is integrated into the ships' onboard Combat Management System which is the Hanwha Systems Naval Shield ICMS Baseline 2. By having so, the weapons management on board will be much manageable on an operation standpoint which increases the effectiveness and efficiency in terms of operating such guns onboard that helps improve the capability of these warships.

It is worth taking note that while the ships have a Fitted For, But Not With (FFBNW) item in terms of having the Vertical Launch System, it will require another set of Fire Control Radar given that a system such as the SELEX NA-25X is limited only to the primary gun control radar as intended.

Being in service with 20 Navies including the home country of Italy, serves with the highest reliability in which it serves primary naval ships including the incoming Jose Rizal-class Frigates with the best capability in terms of enabling the 76mm Super Rapid Gun to perform on its best ability.

Technical specifications can be provided here.

Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (3 units)
BRP Conrado Yap - Pohang-class Corvette (1 unit plus 2 more proposed)
FCS: Mark 92 Fire Control System / WM-28 Fire Control System

This is virtually a US-utilized version that is in itself derived from the WM-25 Fire Control System produced by Signaal (Now Thales) in the Netherlands. It is utilized as a standard in all of the Hamilton-class WHECs of the United States Coast Guard which eventually benefited future owners like the Philippine Navy, Nigerian Navy, Bangladeshi Navy, and Vietnamese Navy, among others.

Like the Jose Rizal-class Frigates, the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels may soon receive its own Combat Management System as part of its upgrade which comes with a hull-mounted sonar that enables its antisubmarine capability as well as a Radar Electronic Support Measure which is basically radar detection and intelligence. It will be of no surprise if both the Mark 92 Fire Control System and the Compact 76mm/62 Oto Melara Guns will be integrated to the Combat Management which is also being provided by Hanwha Systems, given that by having it means improving the overall capabilities onboard the vessels in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in operations.

It is also worth taking note that almost similar system is utilized onboard the Pohang class Corvettes in South Korea which includes the newly-commissioned BRP Conrado Yap wherein the WM-28 Fire Control System is also produced by Signaal (Now Thales) which this has seen as an improvement over the earlier WM-25 Fire Control Radar in which the Mark 92 was derived upon. 

Jacinto-class Patrol Vessel (3 units)
FCS: Saab EOS-500 Electro-Optical Tracking/Fire Control System (on PS-35);
Ultra Electronics Fire Control System (on PS-36 & PS-37)

Before the Peacock-class Patrol Vessels were turned over to the Philippine Navy from the Hong Kong squadron of the British Royal Navy, the fleet relied too much on its existing assets, mostly originated back to the Second World War with most of its guns being handled manually.

It was then that the then British warships, now Jacinto-class Patrol Vessels that the Navy was being introduced to the most sophisticated weapons system of its time which was the Compact 76mm Oto Melara Gun with the Rademec 2500 as its primary Fire Control System at the time of the turnover. 

Currently, the Patrol Vessels received upgrades on its systems which comes at no surprise on the replacement of Rademec 2500 FCS with a newer SAAB EOS-500 Fire Control Systems on the main warship of its class (with the only one having the SAAB 9LV as its Combat Management System) while the two other warships of the class have its own Fire Control System from Ultra Electronics.

With the upgrades taking place for both the Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels and the Jacinto-class Patrol Vessel, it is as ascertained that there may be some time in the future that the key Philippine Navy warships may once again participate in a GUNNEX or Gun Exercise which showcase what the 76mm/62 Oto Melara guns are capable of in combat, in complement with newly-introducing platforms such as the antisubmarine warfare torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.

SUMMARY

The BRP Conrado Yap obtains two 76mm Oto Melara Main Guns
where, if retained, makes it the ship with the most firepower
in terms of gunfire output. Obtained from Source.

In the age of modern warfare, it may be said that naval battles are now being fought with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes which in itself is more effective in sinking out ships and submarines that are found to be threatening to the country and its national interest. All of which is part of systems warfare where it takes a quick second to react from an attack originated from air or underwater as well as a quick second to conduct an attack against an enemy ship at the highest opportunistic period.

But despite these things, most navies still retain the value of the gun wherein the 76mm/62 caliber Oto Melara Gun is still the preferred main primary gun choice of 50 countries with its respective navy fleets which makes it the most common primary gun on the western-oriented navies in which the Philippine Navy is included. It is fitted with various Fire Control System which comes different across ships where the same fundamental applies to track out targets that are provided to the main primary gun to eliminate for. 

Within the fleet, it is integrated into the key combat warships like the Jose Rizal-class Frigates on the recent warship produced to the first warships that entered the fleet with such a system such as the Jacinto-class Patrol Vessels that provides hard lessons for the service branch to understand the operation, maintenance and troubleshoot of the weapons system until more ships have come to play.

The Philippine Navy in its entirety continues to grow as part of its greater Sail Plan initiative, and it will add more upon the production of new Offshore Patrol Vessels such as the ones to be built by Austal and the Corvette Acquisition Project which will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries as a virtual Jose Rizal-class Frigates Flight II which will probably be fitted with the better, Super Rapid variant of the Oto Melara Gun. 

So, there will be more to come in terms of honing the gun firing capability more, as it will go hand in hand with other capabilities that involve missiles and torpedoes, both of which are coming to the Philippine Navy.

(c) 2019 PDA, first edition 2024.

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