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The Philippines acquired and obtained world-class and lethal weapon systems integrated with missile systems to counter China's Aggressive action in the West Philippine Sea
In the face of escalating maritime tension with Beijing in the South China Sea, the Philippine Navy has secured the lion’s share of the recently approved $35 billion Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization budget, signaling a notable recalibration in defense allocations.
The budget is slated to finance a range of acquisitions outlined in an extensive wish list submitted by the AFP to the President. Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, revealed on May 1 that the budget would be disbursed over 10 years.
The spokesperson refrained from detailing the specific items on the wish list, but it is presumed to include the procurement of Submarines, radar equipment, unmanned combat aerial vehicles, naval frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, amphibious and auxiliary vessels, and search and rescue helicopters.
Alongside Re-Horizon 3, the new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept put forward by Philippine defense officials brings an increased emphasis on naval and air forces for the defense of the country. In this strategy, the traditionally internally focused AFP is envisioned operating offshore in its Exclusive Economic Zone and beyond.
The Philippine Navy’s missions include patrols from the EEZ to the internal waterways of the 7,641-island country. Moreover, with an external threat from China, the force is looking to acquire high-end anti-air and submarine warfare capabilities.
Amid increasing regional tensions, particularly in the West Philippine Sea and the Luzon Strait, Manila is modernizing its military capabilities through the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program. Many of the new assets being procured are related to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ shift to Territorial Defense Operations, which aims to orient Philippine forces toward more conventional and higher-end threats.
Several procurements made by Manila to address this new focus include Israeli Long-Range Patrol Aircraft and Indian BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles. For warships, one of the most important acquisitions made during the modernization program, South Korea has established itself as the Philippines’ premier supplier of ships.
Since 2019, the Philippine Navy has received three South Korean warships. These include the two Jose Rizal-class frigates, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (BRP-151) ordered in Horizon 1, the first phase of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.
South Korea also donated the Pohang-class corvette ROKS Chungju (PCC-762), now known as BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39). All of these vessels belong to the Philippine Navy’s Offshore Combat Force, the command responsible for territorial defense and maritime patrol missions.
Philippine Navy’s Offshore Combat Force’s six other vessels include three Gregorio Del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels and three Peacock-class corvettes. These Cold War-era vessels were transferred or sold to the Philippines from the United States and United Kingdom respectively. The two classes have received various improvements over the years, with the latest upgrade awarded in 2019 to South Korea’s Hanwha Systems for the upgrade of the three Gregorio Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessels.
By 2028 the Offshore Combat Forces is expected to have eight to nine more ships, a one hundred percent increase in assets, added to its command. All of which are coming from South Korea. HHI won contracts to construct the next batch of modern warships for the Philippine Navy in 2021 and 2022. In total, HHI is to deliver two corvettes by 2026 and six OPVs by 2028. An additional Pohang-class corvette is also slated to be transferred to the Philippines as confirmed by Philippine officials.
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