Navy needs P500 B for upgrade

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy needs P500 billion to upgrade and strengthen its warfare capabilities under its 15-year Strategic Development Plan.

In a Navy journal this month, Philippine Fleet acting chief of staff for plans and programs Lt. Commander Nerelito Martinez said that the multi-billion funding would be used to bankroll its “Philippine Fleet Desired Force Mix” strategy concept.

Martinez said the newly developed naval strategy calls for the acquisition – within a 15-year-period – of six frigates configured for anti-air warfare, 12 corvettes designed for anti-submarine warfare, and 18 offshore patrol vessels forming the backbone for naval patrol.

To effectively address naval underwater and marine warfare, the Philippine Fleet planners came up with a proposal for the procurement of three submarines and three Mine Countermeasure Vessels.

For its amphibious, sealift and auxiliary services requirements, Martinez said that the Navy fighting force should have four Strategic Sealift Vessels (SSVs) capable to move one brigade of Marines amphibious force or any ground force and its support system; 18 Landing Craft Utility; three Logistics Support/Replenishment Ship; three Ocean tugs and six Yard/Fire tugs, which would provide critical support to warships in docking and undocking.

In Interdiction and Special Boat Operations, the fleet is also eyeing additional procurement of 12 Cyclone class Coast Patrol Interdiction Craft, 30 Patrol gunboats, 42 Multi-Purpose Assault Craft and 24 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats.

For its Naval Air Operations, the fleet is also looking forward to the acquisition of eight Amphibious Maritime Patrol Aircraft needed for maritime air surveillance; 18 Naval Helicopters embarked on frigates and corvettes and eight Multi-Purpose Helicopters embarked on the SSVs.

“Looking at the Navy inventory of mission essential equipment, it is very discernible that majority of our assets, particularly our vessels, were acquired not necessarily because they fit into our strategy or operational requirement but because they are available as grant from the United States or from our allies,” Martinez noted.

He added that based on the current market research and assessment, the new planned procurement would cost the government about P497 billion.

“It may be costly at our current standards but it is not unrealistic. With the establishment of this Force Mix, the Navy will have a ready list and working figure of what we really need in order for the f leet to provide the minimum credible deterrence, a force and capability package for a strong and credible navy that this maritime nation can be proud of,” Martinez said.

The fleet’s capability was reviewed during a strategic planning workshop in May last year based on the Navy’s 15-year Strategic Development Plan, the Philippine Scenarios 2013-2022 and the various restraints and constraints, including the operating environment, the capacity to acquire and maintain and the timeliness.

The assessment also tried to answer what naval warfare capabilities the Navy needed to develop, given the current resources limitations; what types of vessels, aircraft and ancillary equipment must be acquired and how big or small the Navy would be.