A Philippine first: PH Navy to buy 2 submarines

The Duterte administration is serious in making the Philippine Navy(PN) at least at par with its Southeast Asian counterparts.

The PN just announced that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the plan to acquire 2 submarines. Also in the list of acquisitions are more warships in a bid to further advance modernization efforts to better guard the country's waters. 

One of South Korea's Chang Bogo class submarine
(photo credit to owner)

On the list for the PN are the following:

• 2 submarines
• 8 new fast attack interdiction craft (missile-capable) with speeds of up to 40 knots
• 6 new offshore patrol vessels
• 2 new corvettes
• 2 refurbished Pohang-class corvettes, sister vessels of the BRP Conrado Yap acquired from South Korea

Besides the upgrading of assets, the PN is also capacitating itself in shipbuilding.

One of the conditions for the supplier of the offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) was that at least half (3) the number of vessels would be made in the Philippines. 

Four of the 8 fast attack interdiction craft with missile capability will also be built in the country.

“Ika-capacitate natin 'yung naval shipyard, we will now have the capability to build ships sa future,” said Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad.

(We will improve the capacity of our naval shipyard, we will now have the capability to build ships for the future.)

“Mahalaga ito sa self-reliance defense posture na pinupush ni (Defense) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, 'yung ma-capacitate natin 'yung Armed Forces (AFP) to build our own capability,” he added.

(This is important to the self-reliance defense posture being pushed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to improve the capacity of the Armed Forces to build our own capability.)

The PN chief said that while progress was slow in its modernization, it was sure. He is confident that with the arrival of these assets “the Navy will have the capability to patrol our maritime waters.”

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Report from ABS-CBN News