The Philippine Military will be having an upgrade projects with a total budget of P7.04 Billion for the year 2015, as the country’s armed forces is set to receive a total of 67 projects, including several air assets and drones. The Department of National Defense (DND) had more than P7 billion projects based upon the data obtained by The Star.
According to DND’s data, the Army and General Headquarters will get 18 projects each, the Philippine Navy has 16 projects, and the Philippine Air Force will have 13 projects while two (2) projects will be for the government arsenal.
The officials of the Department of National Defense noted that a total of 18 out of 67 projects are classified items and cannot be bared to the public.
Some of the highly anticipated projects of the Philippine Air Force are six units of close air support aircraft worth P4.97 billion, eight units of combat helicopters worth P4.8 billion, eight attack helicopters worth P3.44 billion, two lead-in fighter trainer jets worth P3.16 billion, one medium-lift aircraft worth P1.67 billion and two light-lift aircraft worth P813 million.
Other Air Force projects due for delivery include jet munitions worth P2.24 billion, basing support system radar worth P825.52 million, basing support for long-range patrol aircraft worth P187 million, search and rescue basing worth P149 million, basing support system for lead-in fighter trainer jets worth P135.99 million and a flight simulator worth P252,400.
The Philippine Navy projects include the Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System or drones worth P684.23 million. The Navy will also received two naval helicopters worth P847.51 million, naval base logistics support worth P500 million, six units of 155mm howitzer and 120 rounds of ammunition worth P191.12 million, 10 units of small amphibian vehicles worth P96.69 million, and other important assets needed by the Navy.
The Philippine Army will get 44,080 units of force protection equipment worth P1.76 billion; 4,464 units of night fighting systems worth P1.12 billion, 520 Manpack radios with a total amount of P652.8 million, 28 armored vehicles worth P882 million, 12,657 units of assault rifles acquired through negotiated bidding worth P486.06 million and 10,965 units of assault rifles purchased through public bidding worth P453.28 million.