Armée des Philippines / Armed Forces of the Philippines / Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas

Rappel du premier message :

La Turque a vendu 6 ZMA aux Philippines, voici la vidéo:

http://www.trt.net.tr/Haber/HaberDetay.aspx?HaberKodu=6d08972d-a29d-4110-9cb8-5b1a2f0ce1ef

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AFP to Acquire 145 Units of Reflex Sights


07 Juli 2016


AFP to acquire 145 units of reflex sights (photo ; gettyimages)


The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is allocating the sum of PHP4,177,450 for the acquisition of 145 units of reflex sights.

The latter is optical device that allows the user to look through a partially reflecting glass element and see an illuminated projection of an aiming point or some other image superimposed on the field of view.

The items will be attached to some of the assault rifles in its inventory.

Bid opening is on July 21, 9:00 a.m. at the General Headquarters-Bids and Awards Committee Conference Room, 3/F Bulwagang Syquio, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, BAC GHQ analyst Dona May DC Tauro said in a bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.

Winning bidders must be able to deliver the items within 140 calendar days.

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2016/07/afp-to-acquire-145-units-of-reflex.html

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BRP Dagupan City, One of PN's Disaster Response Ships, Slated for Dry-Docking, Repairs


19 Juli 2016


BRP Dagupan City LC-551 (photo : PN)

MANILA (PNA) -- The Philippine Navy (PN) is allocating the sum of PHP38,494,993.51 for the dry-docking and other related repairs for the BRP Dagupan City (LC-551), one of the military's largest humanitarian disaster response vessels.

Winning bidders are required to complete the service within 100 calendar days.

Pre-bid conference is scheduled on Friday, 8 a.m. at the Office of the PN Bids and Awards Committee Naval Station Jose Francisco, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, PN BAC Secretariat head Cmdr. Pablo O. Fuentebella said.

BRP Dagupan City's ship, the BRP Bacolod City (LC-550) are the two Bacolod City class logistics vessels which weighed 4,265 tons and were both commissioned in Dec. 1, 1993.

Both are use for troop transport and disaster response missions involving carrying of relief goods and personnel.

(PNA)

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2016/07/brp-dagupan-city-one-of-pns-disaster.html

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Tuesday, 2 August 2016
Philippines plans to beef up attack helicopters fleet under "Flight Plan 2028" program
The Philippine Air Force will be acquiring more attack helicopters to beef up its fleet as part of a long-term upgrade program, a PAF official said Tuesday, August 2nd. "The attack helicopter project is a continuing program up until we are able to close the capability gap. It's laid out in the PAF Flight Plan 2028 and very much in line with the president's thrust," Air Force spokesperson Col. Araus Robert Musico said in a message to the PNA.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2016/08/philippines-plans-to-beef-up-attack.html?m=1

Citation :

Philippine Navy begins flight deck operations training on third Del Pilar-class frigate

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
08 August 2016




Key Points
Crew onboard the Philippines' third Del Pilar frigate has begun flight deck operations training in California
Vessel is on track to arrive in the Philippines by November 2016
The Philippine Navy (PN) has begun flight deck operations training from onboard its third Del Pilar (Hamilton and Hero)-class frigate in Alameda, California, with assistance from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) ahead of its journey home in the later part of the year.

The vessel, which has been named BRP Andres Bonifacio and given the pennant number 17, was formally received and recommissioned by the PN on 21 July 2016.

The vessel was previously the Hamilton-class high endurance cutter, USCGC Boutwell (719). The ship was retired from USCG service in March 2016 after 48 years of service and subsequently transferred to the PN under the US' Foreign Military Sale Programme through its Foreign Assistance Act.

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships , the 3,300-tonne platform features an overall length of 115.2 m, an overall beam of 13.1 m and a hull draught of 6.1 m. It can accommodate a crew complement of 162, including 19 officers, and one helicopter on its flight deck.

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney FT4A-6 gas turbine and two Fairbanks-Morse 38TD8-1/8-12 diesel engines in a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) configuration, the ship has a top speed of 29 kt and a standard range of 9,600 n miles at 15 kt.

Andres Bonifacio is scheduled to depart from Alameda in October 2016, and arrive in the Philippines in November 2016. The ship will join two other Del Pilar-class frigates in service with the PN. These are namely BRP Gregorio del Pilar (15) which was also transferred from the USCG in May 2011, and BRP Ramon A Alcaraz (16), which was transferred in May 2012.

Citation :

Sea Platforms
Philippines proposes 15% increase in 2017 defence spending
Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
16 August 2016
The Philippines government has proposed a 2017 defence budget of PHP134.2 billion (USD2.9 billion), a year-on-year increase of about 15%.

Figures published by the Philippine Department of Budget and Management (DMB) on 15 August show that the Philippine Army, with an allocation of PHP56.88 billion, will receive the largest portion of the funding, while the Philippine Navy and Air Force receive PHP20.59 billion and PHP18.89 billion respectively.

Funding for the three armed services is spread across personnel expenses, maintenance and operations, and capital outlays, with the former receiving the bulk in each case.

However, the figures do not include spending for military procurement, which the government sources from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernisation Programme.

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First of 10 Japan-built MRRVs arrives in the Philippines
Julian Ryall, Tokyo - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
18 August 2016
The first of 10 Japan-built multirole response vessels (MRRVs) arrived in the Philippines on 18 August to improve the Philippine Coast Guard's ability to protect the country's maritime territory. Source: Philippine Coast Guard
The first of 10 Japan-built multirole response vessels (MRRVs) arrived in the Philippines on 18 August to improve the Philippine Coast Guard's ability to protect the southeast Asian country's maritime territory and assets.

Named Tubbataha , the MRRV was built by Japan Maritime United Corporation (JMUC) in Yokohama and is part of 10 platforms ordered under a PHP8.8 billion (USD191 million) contract signed between the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and JMUC in 2015. The final boat is scheduled to be delivered in 2018.

According to specifications provided by JMUC, the MRRV features an overall length of 44 m, an overall width of 7.5 m and a draught of 4 m. The vessel is powered by two MTU 12V 4000 M93L diesel engines and has a standard cruising speed of 15 kt. The boat can accommodate a crew of 25, including five officers.

The Philippines is locked in a dispute with China over the sovereignty of a number of atolls and reefs in the South China Sea (SCS), but Beijing's military capabilities dwarf that of Manila.

"In the past few years, we have all been witness to the growing and evolving challenges the Philippine Coast Guard is facing and the maritime and sea-travelling public has had to face," Rear Admiral William Melad, the head of the Philippine Coast Guard, was quoted by Kyodo news agency as saying.

"Who would not be angered by violations committed against our maritime laws that sometimes resulted in maritime accidents or even casualties?" he asked. "And who could afford to take the bullying of our fishermen within our maritime jurisdiction?"

Melad added that as well as helping to interdict poachers, smugglers, human and drug traffickers, he hoped the MRRVs would help the Philippines "stand up for the country's citizens against maritime bullies".

A Coast Guard spokesman was quoted as saying that the vessel is likely to be deployed off the west coast, where the Philippines claims jurisdiction, despite China's occupation of Scarborough Shoal and Reed Bank.

Citation :

Philippines Threaten 'Bloody Confrontation' with Beijing Over South China Sea

The bombastic Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte moved to escalate tensions in the South China Sea knowing that the United States is under a treaty obligation to defend the Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, known as the Donald Trump of the Pacific, unleashed a fiery batch of rhetoric this week that threatens to light a match under the South China Sea powder keg threatening a "bloody confrontation" against any country that infringes on Manila’s sovereignty and suggesting that he would "happily beat up" any party that attempts to take control of the disputed Scarborough Shoals.


The relatively unhinged musings of the Filipino leader follow controversial statements made earlier this week about the country exiting the United Nations if they continue to complain about his aggressive "war on drugs" that has left over 1,900 dead over the past 8 weeks along with statements referring to US Secretary of State John Kerry as "crazy" while laughing that he should have insulted the American diplomat more so that they would give even more money. "I guarantee to (China), if you enter here, it will be bloody, and we will not give it to them easily. It will be the bones of our soldiers, you can include mine," said Duterte to the Associated Press. "We’ll not allow any country to bamboozle (us). We’ll not allow it." Tensions in the South China Sea were sparked when the Philippines unilaterally submitted their claim to the disputed waters and territory before The Hague arbitration court at the behest of the United States. In their decision, the arbitration court invalidated China’s longstanding claim to the waters, through which some 40% of the world’s shipborne trade transits through each day, and surrounding territories which serve a critical military imperative for Beijing. China immediately denounced the ruling. "We will not raise hell now because of the judgment but there will come a time that we have to do some reckoning about this. But we will chart our own course in the national interest of this country," said Duterte according to the Phil Star newspaper. "I hope China is dealing with us in good faith. They seem to be conciliatory. We’re not insisting on arbitral judgment, I know they’re listening to us now, they can monitor us through satellite."

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160827/1044700577/philippines-duterte-china-bloody-war.html





Read more: http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160827/1044700577/philippines-duterte-china-bloody-war.html

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Improved version of M113 Armored Personnel Carriers spotted in Philippine
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The improved version of M113A2 Armored Personnel Carriers with 25mm Elbit Systems’ unmanned turrets was spotted in Philippine.

Earlier it was reported that the Army of the Philippines has signed a contract with Elbit Systems for the procurement of 4 upgraded M113A2 with 25mm cannons and 6 units with 12.7mm machine guns.

The improved version of M113A2 Armored Personnel Carriers will have Remote Control Weapons System (RWS) designed by Elbit Systems. The electronically-driven turrets can be configured with various types of cannons (25 or 30mm), coaxial machine guns (7.62mm) and guided anti-tank missiles. Featuring a high first-round hit probability, the dual-axis stabilized turret is designed for firing on-the-move and at moving targets. Fully overhead with no deck penetration, the turrets do not compromise the vehicle’s armor protection and preserve existing space within the vehicle. In addition, the turrets provide enhanced situational awareness under closed hatches and are easily adaptable to a wide range of new and existing vehicles.

Total Elbit System will be upgrading 28 M-113A2 granted by US Defense Security Cooperation Agency in the Philippines. The said upgrade has a contract price of USD2 million

http://defence-blog.com/army/improved-version-of-m113-armored-personnel-carriers-spotted-in-philippine.html

Citation :

L'armée philippine intensifie l'offensive contre Abou Sayyaf


AFP 30/08/2016

L'armée philippine a déployé des milliers de soldats de soldats supplémentaires mardi pour tenter d'éradiquer un groupe islamiste connu pour enlever des étrangers, après la mort de 15 militaires lors de combats, ont annoncé les autorités.

Le président Rodrigo Duterte a ordonné aux forces de sécurité de venir à bout d'Abou Sayyaf, un groupe qui a prêté allégeance à l'organisation Etat islamique et décapité récemment deux otages canadiens lorsque les millions de dollars de rançon exigés n'avaient pas été versés.

Mais une offensive lancée la semaine dernière sur Jolo, île recouverte d'une jungle épaisse dans le sud de l'archipel, l'une des places fortes d'Abou Sayyaf, s'est heurtée à une résistance féroce.
Quinze soldats ont été tués et dix autres blessés lors du même affrontement lundi, a déclaré le porte-parole de l'armée régionale, le major Filemon Tan.

Environ 2.500 hommes supplémentaires ont été déployés mardi sur Jolo et les îles avoisinantes, selon le porte-parole de la présidentiel Ernesto Abella.
"Le président est déterminé à mettre fin dès que possible à la menace représentée par Abou Sayyaf", a-t-il dit à la presse.

Ces renforts se joindront à deux brigades qui participent à l'offensive en cours. Le porte-parole s'est refusé à donner des chiffres précis mais une brigade compte au minimum un millier d'hommes.

Le major Tan a assuré que l'armée parviendrait à son but tout en reconnaissant que le terrain difficile était favorable à Abou Sayyaf, qui bénéficie aussi de l'aide de certains habitants musulmans.

Initialement, M. Duterte, au pouvoir depuis deux mois, avait appelé le groupe à déposer les armes. Mais ses appels s'étaient heurtés à une fin de non recevoir et le président a rapidement durci le ton.
"Allez-y, allez les détruire. Tuez les", avait-il dit la semaine dernière.

Considéré comme une organisation terroriste par Washington, Abou Sayyaf a été fondé au début des années 1990 avec des financements du réseau el-Qaëda d'Oussama Ben Laden.

Ces dernières années, ses cadres ont prêté allégeance à l'EI mais des analystes considèrent que le groupe, qui s'est spécialisé dans les enlèvements crapuleux, s'intéresse plus à l'argent qu'aux considérations idéologiques. Le groupe détient actuellement un Norvégien, un Néerlandais et cinq Indonésiens, selon l'armée.

http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1004433/larmee-philippine-intensifie-loffensive-contre-abou-sayyaf.html

Citation :

Hyundai wins USD337 million frigate contract from Philippine Navy

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
02 September 2016



Key Points
Hyundai Heavy Industries has been selected to supply the Philippine Navy with two newbuilding frigates
Programme will provide the Philippine Navy with its most modern surface combatant to date
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has formally received a notice of award from the Philippine government to build two new frigates for the Philippine Navy (PN).

The notice, which indicates a contract price of PHP15,744,571,584 (USD337 million), was signed by Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and addressed to the senior general manager for HHI's special and naval shipbuilding division, Ki Yeong Sung.

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) first launched the two-ship frigate acquisition programme in October 2013 to meet the PN's long-range maritime surveillance, patrol, and interdiction capabilities.

HHI pitched the company's HDF-3000 multipurpose frigate design, which has been used as the basis for the Republic of Korea Navy's (RoKN's) Incheon (FFX-I)-class guided-missile frigates.

According to specifications provided by the company, the HDF-3000 design features an overall length of 114.3 m, an overall beam of 14 m and a hull draught of 4 m. The platform has a standard displacement of approximately 3,000 tonnes and can accommodate engines in combined diesel or gas (CODOG) machinery arrangements.

The HDF-3000 design has a maximum speed of 30 kt, and a standard range of 4,500 n miles at the cruising speed of 18 kt. In terms of armament, the platform can carry a 127 mm naval gun, two anti-surface missile launchers mounted diagonally amidship, two triple torpedo tubes, and associated fire control systems.

The PN's weapons wishlist for the warships is currently unknown but an updated list of requirements for the frigate acquisition programme released by the DND in early 2016 calls for no degradation of anti-air and anti-surface capabilities at Sea State 5, and no degradation of anti-submarine warfare capability at Sea State 4.

Citation :

18 nations participate in ASEAN Exercise 16-3
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Areas of the world riddled with natural disasters and cursed by the secondary effects of mother nature’s wrath demand a responsive force that thinks, trains and plans ahead.

An exercise bringing together those very forces from 18 nations’ military and government organizations kicked off Sept. 5, 2016 at 14th Military Circle, Chonburi Province, Thailand. ASEAN Exercise 16-3 commenced with a fitting demonstration of an earthquake-induced collapsed building Search and Rescue operation.

Helicopters from Japan, Russia, Singapore and Thailand roared toward the airfield, dispatching fast-rope rescue teams and airlifting casualties. Meanwhile, teams on the ground moved casualties from the “hot zone,” a simulated collapsing building, to the “warm zone,” the immediate safety of an open field, and triaged according to casualty condition.

Teams from the Indian Army, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Royal Thai Army moved casualties secured on backboards swiftly to the pickup zone or field hospital. It was a grand display of pre-planned, coordinated and rehearsed disaster response, reinforcing the pay-off of the very familiarity and training this exercise will focus on.

“This exercise is intended to foster cooperation and to share experience, information and skills among military medics of the ASEAN member states and plus countries, while fostering capabilities of military units in the region through joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations,” said General Prawit Wongsuwon, Kingdom of Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, during the opening ceremony.

AEx 16-3 is an opportunity for different nations to apply and hone common standard operating procedures and diversify each other’s capabilities for the inevitable calamities of the volatile Indo-Asia-Pacific.

A U.S. contingent of approximately 25 personnel from U.S. Pacific Command; U.S. Army Pacific; U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and Pacific Air Forces will work alongside the other nations in both the command post and field training exercises conducting medical planning, air medical evacuation, military medicine and chemical/ biological/ radiological/ nuclear defense.

Approximately 2,000 personnel are participating in the exercise from the 10 ASEAN member states Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and “plus” countries Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia.

“This is considered an important milestone of defense cooperation,” Wongsuwon lauded the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus program, which, “which helps maintain peace, stability and security in the region.”

Humbling reminders of the significance of combined joint disaster response training come in the form of approximately 100 natural disasters on average each year in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. Sharing and honing real-world, on the ground, tactical and operational response capabilities facilitates effective, efficient response in a merciless environment.

http://defence-blog.com/news/18-nations-participate-in-asean-exercise-16-3.html

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22.09.2016

Antiterrorisme: des Grand Caravan ISR pour le Tchad, le Cameroun et les Philippines




Les USA poursuivent leur effort d'équipement des forces armées africaines en moyens ISR. En mai dernier, j'avais consacré un post aux programmes en cours.

Le Pentagone vient de diffuser un avis de fourniture de Cessna 208B à trois pays pour doper leurs capacités ISR dans le cadre de la lutte antiterroriste. Lire ci-dessous:

Citation :

"Cessna Aircraft Co., Wichita, Kansas, has been awarded a $23,998,813 firm-fixed-price contract for the Building Partnership Capacity C-208B Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Program. Contractor will provide six Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft, three spare Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140 engines, and aircraft spares and ground handling equipment to the U.S. Africa Command and Pacific Command areas of responsibility in support of counterterrorism measures in Chad, Cameroon, and the Philippines. Work will be performed at Wichita, Kansas, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2017. This contract involves pseudo foreign military sales. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. National Defense Authorization Act Section 2282; and fiscal 2016 counterterrorism partnerships funds in the amount of $23,998,813 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-16-C-4016)."

Tchad et Cameroun sont engagés dans la lutte contre Boko Haram. Même si le nombre d'appareils par pays n'est pas spécifié, on peut penser que chacun recevra 2 Cessna Grand Caravan. En octobre 2015, deux avions ISR de ce type avaient été livrés au Niger par les Etats-Unis.

http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2016/09/22/antiterrorisme-de-l-isr-pour-le-tchad-le-cameroun-et-les-phi-16826.html

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ADAS 2016: PT PAL readies for rectification works on the Philippine Navy's first SSV

Ridzwan Rahmat, Manila - IHS Jane's Navy International
29 September 2016







Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL has confirmed that it is working with the Philippine Navy (PN) to determine the extent of damages sustained by the service's first-of-class strategic sealift vessel (SSV) in a collision on 19 September.

The landing platform dock (LPD)-like ship, BRP Tarlac, was anchored off Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Mindanao when it was rammed by a Liberian-flagged product tanker, MT Tosca .

Initial assessments suggest the damages suffered in the incident are minor, and mostly localised in the ship's bow section at the point of impact.

"However, we are not taking any chances and our technicians are currently on the vessel to check the ship's vital components," said Tjahjono Yudo, PT PAL's general manager of corporate strategic planning, in a meeting with IHS Jane's at the ADAS 2016 defence exhibition in Manila on 29 September.

The inspections will cover components including the vessel's hydraulic systems, electrical systems, and hull scantlings to ensure the platform's structural integrity has not been compromised.

"We are standing by for the possibility that the vessel may be sent back to Surabaya for repair works in the worst-case scenario," said Tjahjono. But he added that this looks highly unlikely unless the technicians find major rectifications are required.

Citation :

ADAS 2016: Israel in talks to supply Philippine Navy, Coast Guard with Super Dvora patrol craft

Ridzwan Rahmat, Manila - IHS Jane's Navy International
30 September 2016




Key Points
Israel is in discussions to supply the Super Dvora patrol craft to the Philippines
Platform may be deployed in the country's southern regions given spate of kidnap-for-ransom operations
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has confirmed that it is currently in discussions with the Philippine government to provide a number of Super Dvora Mk III-type fast attack craft (FAC) for the country's navy and coastguard services.

Speaking to IHS Jane's at the ADAS 2016 exhibition in Manila, an official from IAI's international marketing division emphasised that the talks are still at the preliminary stages, and the Philippine government has yet to decide on the number of platforms to be procured.

The Philippine Navy (PN) has a requirement for fast attack craft under a phase known as 'Horizon 2' in the service's capability upgrades programme. The requirement seeks to equip the PN with fast littoral interdiction capabilities.

"The number of vessels that are required has yet to be decided," said the IAI official, who added that the acquisition may also be jointly executed with the Philippine Coast Guard as part of the service's requirements for similar platforms.

"Either way the [Super Dvora Mk IIIi] is a very configurable and can be customised according to the customer's requirements whoever they may be."

According to specifications provided by IAI, the Super Dvora Mk IIIi has top speeds in excess of 40 kt, and a standard range of 300 n miles at 30 kt. The 20 m platform can operate up to Sea State 3, with survivability at up to Sea State 5. Customers can also opt between articulating surface drive (ASD) or waterjet for the vessel's propulsion systems.

Weapons that can be included on the platform include 23 mm, 25 mm, or 30 mm stabilised naval gun systems at the primary position, and a manned cannon of up to 20 mm at the stern position.






http://www.janes.com/article/64227/adas-2016-israel-in-talks-to-supply-philippine-navy-coast-guard-with-super-dvora-patrol-craft

Citation :

PAF Gets Fifth C-130 Cargo Aircraft


10 Oktober 2016


Second C-130 Hercules from US with EDA scheme (photo : AMARG)


Amid Duterte riff, PAF gets C-130 cargo plane from US

The Philippine Air Force’s fifth C-130 cargo aircraft, acquired through the United States’ Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program, arrived in Mactan, Cebu, on Sunday.

The aircraft arrived in the middle of President Duterte’s harangue against the United States for past slights and his avowd move to position the Philippines closer to China and Russia, historical foes of the US.

PAF spokesperson Col. Antonio Francisco said the Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo plane flown by Maj. Marjorie Mukay, the pilot in command, landed at Benito Ebuen Airbase in Mactan.

“Major Mukay is the first female pilot to be certified as a pilot in command of a C-130 aircraft,” Francisco told reporters.

The C-130 left Davis-Monthan Air Base in Tucson, Arizona, on Oct. 6.

The other crew members were Lt. Col. Joey Inacay, mission commander; Lt. Col. Jason Rom Lacida, aircraft commander, and pilots Maj. Anthony Amora, Maj. Meritto Jay Quijano and Maj. Ronel Salas.

The newest C-130 and another one that arrived in April—valued at around $61 million—were originally configured as airborne tankers, according to the Air Force official.

The PAF’s air assets for logistics and lift missions are now composed of the five C-130s, as well as three Airbus Military C-295 medium aircraft and three Fokker F-27 transports.

The US defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency is responsible for administering the EDA program.

Under authorities established in the US Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act, defense articles declared as excess by the US military departments may be offered to foreign governments or international organizations in support of US national security and foreign policy objectives as well as in the armed forces modernization efforts of US allies.

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2016/10/paf-gets-fifth-c-130-cargo-aircraft.html

Citation :

Les Philippines vont revoir leur alliance militaire avec les États-Unis au profit de la Chine


Posté dans Asie-Pacifique, Diplomatie par Laurent Lagneau Le 17-10-2016



Pour régler un différend territorial, il n’est pas toujours utile de faire parler la poudre ou de montrer ses muscles. L’élection d’un nouveau président prêt à sacrifier les intérêts de son propre pays à celui d’un autre, comme c’est le cas aux Philippines, peut suffire.

En 2012, la Chine a mis la main sur l’atoll de Scarborough, qui, d’une superficie de 150 km2 (lagon compris) et situé dans le centre-est de la mer de Chine méridionale, appartenait aux Philippines.

Suite à cela, Manille a protesté devant la Cour permanente d’arbitrage (CPA) de La Haye, laquelle a estimé, en juillet, que les revendications territoriales chinoises n’ont « aucun fondement juridique » et que Pékin a « violé les droits souverains des Philippines. »

En outre, avant cet arrêt de la CPA, Manille avait renforcé ses liens militaires avec Washington, notamment en révisant les clauses d’un traité de défense conclu en 1951. Et c’est ainsi que les forces navales américaines et philippines entamèrent des patrouilles conjointes en mer de Chine méridionale.

À noter que l’assistance militaire des États-Unis comprenait aussi un volet antiterroriste, des commandos américains ayant été affectés auprès de leurs homologues philippins pour lutter contre le groupe jihadiste Abu Sayyaf, désormais lié à l’État islamique (EI) après avoir rompu avec al-Qaïda.

Seulement, l’élection, au printemps dernier, du président Rodriguo Duterte, a changé la donne. Connu pour ses outrances, ses insultes et ses solutions simplistes, celui qui n’a pas hésité à se comparer à Hitler dans sa lutte contre les trafiquants (et les consommateurs) de drogue, a amorcé un virage à 180 degrés en matière de relations diplomatiques.

En septembre, M. Duterte a prié les conseillers militaires américains affectés à la lutte contre Abu Sayyaf de faire leur paquetage et de quitter Mindanao. Puis il a mis un terme aux patrouilles maritimes communes avec l’US Navy. Enfin, il a prévenu que les manoeuvres navales conjointes entre les États-Unis et les Philippines seraient les premières et les dernières. Une position qu’il a mantenue, lors d’un entretien accordé à la chaîne hongkongaise Phoenix Television, ce 17 octobre.

Alors qui lui a été demandé s’il envisageait des exercices militaires avec la Chine et la Russie, M. Duterte a été clair : « Oui, je l’envisage. » Et d’ajouter : « J’ai donné suffisamment de temps aux Américains pour jouer avec les soldats philippins », avant de préciser que les récentes manoeuvres avec l’US Navy « seront les dernières ». « C’est programmé. Je ne veux pas que mes soldats soient humiliés », a-t-il insisté.

Mais ce n’est pas tout. Jusqu’à présent, les États-Unis sont les principaux fournisseurs des forces armées philippines. Mais cela risque de n’être plus le cas à l’avenir étant donné que M. Duterte a précisé qu’il chercherait à acquérir du matériel militaire – « pas en (grande) quantité » – auprès de la Chine, où il est attendu pour discuter d’accords pour des milliards de dollars.

Et qu’en sera-t-il, dans tout ça, de l’atoll de Scaroborough et du Second Thomas Shoal, où, pour le coup, les marins philippins furent humiliés par leurs homologues chinois, en 2014?

http://www.opex360.com/2016/10/17/les-philippines-vont-revoir-leur-alliance-militaire-avec-les-etats-unis-au-profit-de-la-chine/

Citation :

Les nouveaux paradigmes du sud-est asiatique


14 novembre 2016/ Actualité Stratégie et politique

Les Philippines, le plus fidèle allié des Etats-Unis dans le sud-est asiatique, sont en train d’amorcer une rupture historique avec Washington, sous l’impulsion de son président de la République, Rodrigo Duterte.

Avec un taux de croissance de 6% par an, Duterte, après avoir annulé toutes les patrouilles communes avec l’US Navy, a exigé le départ des forces spéciales américaines, a annulé plusieurs contrats d’équipements militaires (F-16, fusils d’assaut…) et a entamé une stratégie de rapprochement avec Pékin, qui devrait l’amener à reprendre les négociations bilatérales sur les zones de pêche en mer de Chine. Les déclarations en faveur de Moscou et Pékin ne suffisent pas à comprendre le revirement de Manille, qui a mis un terme à une alliance militaire vieille de 70 ans.

Duterte est tout d’abord motivé par 15 milliards d’investissements chinois dans son économie, et les 9 milliards de crédits. C’est un schéma identique proposé par d’autres qui explique les ventes de patrouilleurs japonais MRRV ou des véhicules tactiques du coréen KIA. Par delà la volonté de diversification des achats militaires, le montant des prêts et des taux de crédit records sur vingt ans (et renégociables sur vingt autres années) garantis par les Etats fournisseurs, ainsi que leurs capacités à créer de l’emploi favorisent Pékin, Tokyo et Séoul mais aussi la Suède, qui cherche à reconduire la méthode utilisée au Brésil pour vendre le Gripen.

La Malaisie, qui a réduit son budget défense de 12%, s’est laissée séduire, comme l’a démontré le nouveau partenariat stratégique avec Pékin et l’achat de quatre patrouilleurs littoraux LMS chinois.

En outre, sa dépendance économique croissante à l’égard de Pékin a poussé la Russie, lors du dernier sommet du G20, à soutenir la Chine face aux tentatives d’arbitrages occidentales en Mer de Chine, et a invité le Vietnam, traditionnellement protégé par le bouclier et les armements russes, à la plus grande prudence. Ainsi l’ancien ambassadeur du Vietnam aux Pays-Bas, Dinh Hoang Thang, par ailleurs très impliqué dans les contrats d’armements, a, la semaine dernière, soutenu la stratégie des Philippines à l’égard de Pékin.

Ainsi sur les cinq pays riverains de la Mer de Chine en conflit avec Pékin, seuls Brunei et Taïwan n’ont toujours pas transigé, et l’Indonésie comme l’Australie restent les seuls à proposer des patrouilles communes dans les zones contestées.

http://www.ttu.fr/nouveaux-paradigmes-sud-asiatique/

Citation :

Philippines Stopped the Operation of the Polish Helicopters W-3A Sokol


26 November 2016


PAF W-3A Sokol (defence.pk)

According to the Philippine media, the Air Force of the Philippines decided to abandon the operation of the remaining six have helicopters of the Polish production of PZL-Swidnik W-3A Sokol, after which took place November 8, 2016 this type of helicopter crash, which became the second case the loss of Filipino W-3A in the four years of operation .

In this case, the helicopter W-3A (side number 310 926) Philippine Air Force crashed on November 8, 2016 at Sabang on Palawan Island, reportedly for "technical reasons" (engine failure). On board the helicopter were four crew and nine passengers member, including several high-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police - including the National Police Operations Department Head Philippines Camillio Kaskolan, his deputy Nestor Begonia and Chief of Staff Amador Corpus, as well as head of the local police district 4B Vilben Mayor . All of them were sent by helicopter from the administrative center of Palawan's Puerto Princesa Sabang in the province for inspection prior to the imminent arrival of the Minister of Justice of the Philippines Lourdes Serena to wait there for a meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Justice. The helicopter made an emergency landing and fell, four passengers were injured and hospitalized.

Before, the other helicopter W-3A (side number 310 921) Philippine Air Force crashed as for technical reasons, August 7, 2014 in Marawi in Mindanao, while two stationed aboard were injured . It is reported that the operation of the W-3A helicopter in the Air Force of the Philippines accompanied by repeated failures.

The contract, worth 2.858 billion pesos (77 million dollars) for the purchase in Poland, eight helicopters W-3A Sokol production PZL-Swidnik plant (later acquired the company of AgustaWestland, now Leonardo) to Philippine Air Force program for Combat Utility Helicopter (CUH) was signed August 28, 2009 when the administration of former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with the active participation of the then Minister of national Defence Norbert Gonzalez. This contract then surprised many, since the W-3 is a second-rate limited-edition machine in fact the manufacturer on the market, and the Philippines became the first foreign customer of W-3 helicopters for a long time after the failure of the canceled contracts 2004-2005 PZL-Swidnik Iraq and Vietnam. The helicopters were delivered to the Philippines from February 2012 to February 2013.

The W-3A helicopter were purchased to replace worn but effective in combat use veteran helicopter Bell UH-1H, but, as reported, the Philippine military were disappointed with the inability of "Sokol" correspond to combat the level of the good old "Iroquois", and Polish helos were transferred to the 505th search and rescue group Air Force in Manila, where actually used mainly for transport.

(BMPD)

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2016/11/philippines-stopped-operation-of-polish.html

Citation :

Japan to deliver first two TC-90 trainer aircraft to the Philippines

Gabriel Dominguez, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

23 March 2017


Japan will transfer the first two of five Beechcraft TC-90 King Air advanced trainer aircraft to the Philippines on 27 March, with the remaining three aircraft set to be delivered by the end of 2017, the Tokyo-based Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency said in a statement on 21 March.

The Philippine Navy (PN) is leasing the TC-90s from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) to boost its maritime security capabilities.

Besides the delivery of the aircraft, the deal, which was signed during the administration of former Philippine president Benigno Aquino III, includes pilot training and aircraft maintenance support.

Jane's reported in March 2016 that the TC-90s will not be weaponised and are expected to feature only basic surveillance systems, but represent one of Japan's first programmes to transfer military aircraft since the country lifted its defence export ban in 2014.