Gov’t planning to install missile systems on 2 warships from US

MANILA, Philippines - The government is considering the installation of missile systems on the two warships it acquired recently from the United States.

Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said the proposal to equip the cutters BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz is intended to boost the capabilities of naval forces securing the country’s maritime resources and energy projects.

“The ships are huge so there are opportunities to install equipment and to increase their capabilities,” Manalo said.

He said they are now determining what equipment could be added to the vessels.

“We are studying if we can place surface-to-surface missile system or maybe surface-to-air missile,” he said, adding that the Navy would undertake the study.

Manalo said President Aquino and defense officials led by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin discussed the matter during a recent meeting.

“The security of the Malampaya (gas project) was discussed and we are going to use the ships for that, so we provided an update about the status of Gregorio del Pilar and Alcaraz,” he said.

Manalo could not give the cost of installing the missile systems until the study is completed.

The Philippine Navy acquired the BRP del Pilar last year while the BRP Alcaraz is expected to arrive in April, both from the US Coast Guard.

The government spent P450 million for the BRP del Pilar, which was acquired under the US Foreign Military Sales program.

The acquisition deal did not cover key components like the close-in weapons system and radars, which were stripped from the ship by the US before it was turned over to the Philippines.

The defense department also bared plans to acquire two Maestrale-class missile-firing warships from Italy to support the military’s upgrade efforts. Officials are still determining whether the Italian vessels would satisfy the needs of the Navy. – With Pia Lee-Brago, AP