The Philippines’ armed forces began the shore-based missile defense system project as part of the First Phase of modernization but rescheduled the procurement due to the necessity of the army and special forces. Then the project was the move in this 2nd phase of the Philippine Army modernization program.
As the Philippine Air Force already acquiring the defensive system for them, an air defense system. The Philippine Army is still in the process of negotiating one of the world’s best missilde defense systems coming from the technology of a trusted country.
At first, an Israel Made Shore-based missile defense system is one of the Philippine Army’s top choices. As time passes by and checking the specification of possible defense system finalized. The Government decided to negotiate the Brahmos jointly developed by Russia and India as the Philippine Army Coast defense system.
In 2016, the Indian warship building industry, a state-run Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd, emerged as the winner for Philippine Navy’s big-ticket modernization program. The company was the lowest bidder to supply two light frigates and hopes to seal the contract worth more than $321 million in the next two months.
Indian Navy Kamorta class Warship
The frigate will be a design based on the Indian Navy’s Kamorta-class anti-submarine corvette and capable of withstanding Sea State 7, a wave height of up to 9 meters.
The 2,000-tonne frigate will be 95 meters long, have a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration propulsion system, and work in an area contaminated with nuclear, biological, and chemical agents.
In addition, it will have a tactical data link and a radio capable of tactical communication. The frigates will have 76mm naval guns and fire control radar with a built-in electro-optical tracking system integrated into the Combat Management System.
After the Philippine official evaluation, India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers lose 16 billion pesos Philippine naval contract to supply two light frigates failed to clear financial assessment tests after winning the contract. Reports from the Philippines suggest that a post-qualification assessment found GRSE deficient on financial requirements.
The Central Government could offer to back the company and help it meet the Philippines contract’s financial requirements. However, people said GRSE is already running on capacity with several orders from the Indian Navy.
The Brahmos was developed in 1998 in a joint venture between the Defense Research and Development Organization of India and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise of Russia in an inter-government agreement.
The missile system can be launched from land-based mobile vertical launchers. At the same time, its variants can also be fired from warships and fighter aircraft.
It can engage and hit targets from as far as 290 kilometers when launched, flying as low as five meters in elevation or at 1,400 altitudes at the maximum speed of 2800 kilometers per hour.
Once these Brahmos are finally procured and delivered, the Army will have the capability of defending the country from foreign offenders and other territorial threats on the open seas.
Once this system commission to the Philippine Army, it will significantly enhance the armed forces’ capability to provide the country’s vital security.
Lately, the Department of National Defense Secretary said, the program to acquire medium-range supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles is moving forward. But getting enough funds for this remains a challenge.
According to the PNA report, the Department of National Defense chief, the procurement depends on how quickly the funds would be made available. The Defense secretary said they plan to acquire at least “two batteries” of the Brahos cruise missiles.
Each battery has three autonomous mobile launchers with two or three missile tubes each. If acquired, the missiles will be utilized to fulfill the Philippine Army’s coastal defense missions.
Aside from the Philippine Army, the Department of National Defense chief said the weapons can also be used by the Philippine Air Force.
The procurement of this multi-billion ordnance will be via the government-to-government transaction.
