On February 2015, the Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) released a new Invitation to Bid for the 155mm Towed Howitzer with Ammunition acquisition project for the Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps.
Three of the 12 155-mm howitzers acquired by the Department of National Defense for the Army and Marines, has arrived and the other nine are in transit, the department’s public affairs office chief, Arsenio Andolong said.
The three Elbit-Soltam M-71 155mm/Towed 39 CAL howitzers were delivered late April and were formally accepted by the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), whose artillerymen are familiarizing themselves with the weaponry, Andolong added.
The nine remaining howitzers will undergo technical examination once they arrived, combining that three of these will be given to the PMC and six to the Army Artillery Regiment.
The new howitzers were supplied by the Israeli defense company, Elbit Systems Land and C41.
The contract was originally for PHP 438.62 million and includes 240 155-mm high explosive shells and integrated logistic support. Elbit won by submitting a bid of PHP 410.84 million.
