The Philippine government will be buying one of the first and most advanced equipment the country will acquire to improve its armed forces. For the very first time in the history of the Philippines, the country will buy electric and diesel-run submarines, including advanced missile systems.
According to a news report posted by Gulf News, submarine is part of the government’s $22.11 billion (998 billion pesos) modernization plan that was approved by the Aquino administration in July 2015.
The procurement of the advance military equipment will ensure its strength against China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia which have overlapping claims in the hotly disputed South China Sea, also known and parts of the West Philippine Sea.
“The Philippine Navy will buy several submarines and missile systems in the next five years from private manufacturing firms either from South Korea or Japan,” a military source who requested anonymity told Gulf News.