DND to acquire 2 Navy missile frigates

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) plans to acquire two Navy missile frigates from Italy and several aircraft to beef up the country’s maritime security capability.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the two warships would cost about P11.7 billion and would be acquired from the Italian Navy.

“These frigates are operational. These are being used by the Italian Navy. We will overhaul them so they will be as good as new,” Gazmin said.

The Maestrale-class ships were commissioned in 1982 and are more capable than any of the vessels in the Philippine Navy’s inventory.

Gazmin said the two warships have anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities.

The ships also have missile systems and modern radars.

Gazmin said the Italian warships would be the most potent vessels so far to be acquired by the military.

The frigates may be delivered to the Philippines in November 2013 if the government signs the contract in January.

Gazmin said the acquisition would improve the country’s defense posture as it secures its territory in the West Philippine Sea.

“We can use these (ships) against terrorism and in enforcing our maritime laws,” he said.

The DND has submitted the acquisition plan to President Aquino for approval.

DND Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said the Italian government has expressed willingness to include the weapons systems and other vital accessories of the ships.

“We will not accept what is less than what is installed in the ship,” Manalo said.

This was in contrast with the warship provided by the United States. The US ship was stripped of key components like the close-in weapons system and radars before it was turned over to the Philippines.

Last year, the Philippines acquired the US Coast Guard cutter that was renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar to improve its territorial defense capabilities.

The government spent P450 million for the vessel’s transfer costs but the amount did not cover some of the ship’s components.

Last May, the US did not grant the request of the Philippines to include the weapons systems in the second warship it will provide to the Navy.

The Navy earlier admitted that the second warship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, would cost more than the BRP del Pilar since government had to buy accessories that were stripped from the vessel.

Manalo said they have also asked Aquino to approve a plan to acquire 12 T-50 fighter jets from South Korea.

“Based on our assessment, it is the T-50 of South Korea that is most advantageous to us in consideration to the (prevailing) situation in the West Philippine Sea and what is affordable to us,” he said.

Manalo said the jets could be delivered in two years if a contract is signed by yearend.

Gazmin said they would ask the South Korean government to immediately deliver the two jets so that Filipino pilots could use them as trainers.

The DND is also eyeing the acquisition of 10 attack helicopters worth P3.2 billion from Eurocopter of France.

“We negotiated for the acquisition of the attack helicopters since the major consideration is they are brand new and are already available,” Manalo said.

“We are negotiating and once we agree on the terms and conditions of the negotiation, we will recommend to the (DND) secretary for its approval,” he added.