Military to get P7-B upgrades this year 

By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 7, 2015 - 1:00am

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MANILA, Philippines - The military is set to receive 67 upgrade projects this year, including several air assets and drones.

Data obtained by The STAR from the Department of National Defense (DND) showed that the upgrade projects have a total budget of P7.04 billion.

The Army and general headquarters will get 18 projects each, the Navy 16 and the Air Force 13. Two projects will be for the government arsenal.

Officials said 18 of the 67 projects are classified items that cannot be bared to the public.

The Air Force will get 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 P1.76 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.

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The Navy projects include the Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System or drones worth P684.23 million.

It will involve the acquisition of surveillance equipment to boost Marines’ security and search and rescue operations.

The package will include six sets of drones or small unmanned aerial vehicle sub-system, nine sets of target acquisition device sub-systems, 12 kits of tactical sensor integration sub-systems and integrated logistics support.

Other Navy projects to be delivered include 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, 330 units of personal role radios worth P86 million, 720 units of 40mm grenade launchers worth P66.24 million, 120 units of 7.62mm designated marksman rifles worth P66 million, 85 units of 7.62mm sniper rifles worth P50 million, 20 units of 60mm mortars worth P66 million and 10 units of 81mm mortars worth P33.35 million.

The 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.

Other deliveries are 1,446 units of 2-5W hand-held radios worth P430.8 million, 60 field ambulances worth P312 million, thermal imaging device worth P240 million, six units of howitzers with 120 rounds of ammunition worth P247.5 million, 60 units of 50W AV configuration radio worth P144 million, tactical engagement simulation system worth P138.4 million, 54 units of 60mm mortar worth P106.9 million and CAFGU active auxiliary communication system worth P50.78 million.

General headquarters projects are 686 light utility vehicles worth P1.86 billion, military engineering equipment worth P607 million, Armed Forces medical and dental equipment upgrade worth P109 million, first forward medics equipment worth P31.9 million, enhanced data generation system worth P20 million and Camp Bautista hospital equipment worth P9.5 million.