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22 March 2005. We have been provided a first look at the RPG Cage being developed by the Marines to improve the protection of its armored vehicles.
12 March 2005 - New look and new more permanent host for the Manokski's Orbat site. This site is of course a work-in-progress and we ask that you excuse the mess. We are re-organizing the site, proofreading and making some changes. We would appreciate feedback from our readers. Look to more changes to the site in the future.
12 March 2005 - In a somewhat surprising admission, the AFP has admitted that they were caught off guard by the ferocity of the fighting in Jolo.
(07 February 2005). Clashes have been going on for two days now in 6 towns in Sulu between the MILF-Misuari/ASG group and the AFP. Jolo is being prepared for an attack. Initial reports say that this was a result of an operation conducted 2 weeks ago by the Marines (MBLT 4 & 5) against the ASG. Unfortunately, the MILF-Misuari group thought they were the object of the operations and the clash against the Marines are a reprisal against government operations. Casualties have been reported on all sides. Troop movements and redeployments are now underway with the MBLT10 being sent to Jolo along with the PAF OV10s and MG520 gunships. The Army's 44th IB is being put on call for deployment from Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte to Zamboanga City.
(11 December 2004). A lot of people are decrying the AFPs lack of conventional defense capability. They however fail to see the trees from the forest. There is a quiet revolution going on in the AFPs capability to conduct special operations and most of the equipment acquisitions are geared toward improving on those capabilities. It also seems that the US is encouraging this trend. To wit - new special forces transports, night fighting capabilities, extra funding for special ops forces like the Army's LRF, the Navy's SWAG, the Marines in general, PAFs night fighting mods. Let's face it, there is no way that we can match capabilities with the US, but we can develop our own special abilities and improve our ability to operate with the US and allied forces. If that's so, the AFP is not alone in this. Nato countries in general do it that way. *
(27 September 2004) Seventy (70) 28ft coastal patrol boats are being funded by the UNDP and donated to the BFAR. The BFAR is in turn distributing them to each province. These small boats are to be used for fishery protection.
Do you know that in 1964, the PAF transferred one of its RT-33s back to the USAF? The USAF was short on tactical recon aircraft and offered to provide the PAF with another T-33 in exchange for one of only three operational RT-33s in the PAF inventory. The PAF being short of jet trainers took up the offer and transferred the RT-33 back to the USAF at Clark in 1964.
30 March 2005. Gun Truck News. One of the newly delivered gun trucks (named "Ugab") used by the 3 Marine Brigade was ambushed by Muslim rebels. In a testament to its effectiveness, no Marines were killed and 2 were slightly injured. .
(27 September 2004). More items are being put up for sale - the carcass of one of its Nomads with tail no. 15 is being sold for a minimum bid of PhP 36K. Two (2) F5s with tail nos 323 & 505 are also being sold for a minimum bid of PhP 247,500 for both. These a/c will be included with other assorted obsolete aircraft parts including 18 T-28 engines. Bidding is to take place on Oct. 14, 2004.
(12 Sept 2004) Unconfirmed but alluded to in the PAF website - don't expect anymore Huey IIs. The money is being "reprioritized" to acquire more H model Hueys instead of Huey IIs. Guess that explains why the Hueys being overhauled in Singapore are coming rather quickly - because they've been paid already. It'll be interesting to see whether the other Hueys coming from the US after this first 20 will materialize. One thing about the Huey II though is why then spend the money on getting a "one-of" aircraft? My guess is that someone guaranteed the supply of spares for the H model Hueys. Maybe there is an arrangement with Bell or STAE?
The new Defense Secretary Avelino "Nonong" Cruz (ex-Presidential Legal Counsel) formally took over the defense post yesterday August 25 with the acceptance of three newly refurbished UH-1H from the Singapore Aerospace Engineering Pte Ltd. The three comprised the first batch of 20 Hueys bought & refurbished in Singapore at PhP 31.4 million each. An additional 30 UH-1H will be turned over soon from the US Excess Defense Articles program as part of the benefits of the so called "major non-NATO ally" classification of the Philippines. The PAF is in the process of trying to outfit at least 40 of its UH-1H with night flying capabilities
(8 December 2004). PS35 Emilio Jacinto entered the first phase of a three phase upgrade program. Phase I involves armament upgrades and installation of new fire control, electronics, radar and navigation systems. Check out the details and the pics here. Slowly but surely there is some improvement in PN capabilities. The good thing about upgrading these ships is that they give the PN invaluable lessons in managing new technologies, experience in maintaining and operating modern warships far out of proportion to their size. It represents an investment in the future that cannot be underestimated.
(December 7, 2004) The Philippine Marines is manufacturing new gun trucks. Up to 15 are planned and the first two have been completed and are now deployed.
(September 25, 2004) Combat Boat 90s are very much in the news these days. Finally some recognition that the Malampaya area needs better defenses. Four (4) Boats are to be acquired with one already ready to be delivered pending a successful completion of tests. One interesting side note on this issue is that the manufacturer of the CB90 is DoctstaVarvet of Sweden which is a partner of Patria which is also a partner of Alvis. The PN is building up a pretty nice special forces delivery capability with the delivery of the CB90s and the Cyclone class which is really a large special forces transport.
The newest addition to the Philippine Fleet - PS38, Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) General Mariano Alvarez, ex PC-1, USS Cyclone. Commissioned into the Philippine Navy on March 6, 2004. Delivered to the PN after overhaul at the Bollinger shipyards where it got the stern modified with the ramp for the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) as well as the stabilized 25mm mount on the stern. PS38 itself cost $30 million. Another two years of spares are also included in the deal.
An additional two Sea Killer class (PKM 200) gun boats are to be acquired from the South Koreans though negotiations are on going. The overhaul of the existing PKMs has hit a snag. It appears that no Sokor manufacturers are interested in the PN overhaul program and the PN is trying to get local shipyards interested. The question now is why aren't the Sokors interested?