MikeLigalig.com

MANILA - The Philippines is set to buy two Maestrale-class frigates from Italy, a defense official said Wednesday, as the Asian nation races to upgrade its military amid mounting territorial disputes with China.

The frigates, along with 12 FA-50 fighter aircraft, are the most significant items on the government's 75-billion-peso ($1.7-billion) military modernization budget over the next five years, Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said.

"We are modernizing not because we want to go to war with China," he told a news conference.

He said the government had a sworn obligation to defend the "West Philippine Sea," using the government's preferred term for Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea.

"We are not saying that this is part of our preparations to assert our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. What we are saying is that we cannot just give them up."

The frigates would add to two refurbished Hamilton-class cutters formerly used by the US Coast Guard that the Philippines acquired from its US ally to upgrade its ageing navy fleet, which includes some vessels that first saw action in World War II.

Manalo said the navy had already decided to acquire two new Maestrale-class frigates instead of buying used ones from the Italian navy, and had budgeted 18 billion pesos for them.

The Philippines could be ready to tender by the end of the year, he added.

Meanwhile, the government had alloted 18.9 billion pesos to acquire the fighter aircraft, which are built by South Korea, he added.

The modernization budget also provides for building or improving facilities to berth and provide maintenance to the vessels on the military's shopping list, Manalo said.

President Benigno Aquino vowed Monday to rebuild the air force by 2016.

The Philippines, which has one of the weakest military forces in the region, retired the last of its US-designed F-5 fighters in 2005.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/03/13/philippines-buy-2-frigates-italy

These 2 Maestrale-class frigates, the 2 new frigates we purchased from the United States will definitely provide the Philippines a credible defense posture.

These two frigates have excellent anti-submarine capability. This will be useful for the Philippines...

Aside from defense in asserting our territorial rights, nindot pud ni sila in controlling unta sa mga armed groups nga motabuk gikan sa Malaysia ug Indonesia pareha anang JI.

Good move. But to adequately patrol our waters, we need much more than token acquisitions.

Quote from: taga tigbao on July 07, 2013, 05:23:27 PM
Aside from defense in asserting our territorial rights, nindot pud ni sila in controlling unta sa mga armed groups nga motabuk gikan sa Malaysia ug Indonesia pareha anang JI.

He he he, I think if the Philippine Navy were to send just 1 of our soon-to-be-acquired Masetrale Class Frigate to the Sulu Sea, the Malaysians might get too 'intimidated' and take it as a Philippine plan to re-possess Sabah. Considering the nature of the Navy, the Philippine's warships would be sent to interdict the rampant piracy as well as to neutralize armed bandits.

With or without the approval of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

Quote from: hubag bohol on July 07, 2013, 05:57:35 PM
Good move. But to adequately patrol our waters, we need much more than token acquisitions.

You're right, we need at least 10 of such warships to be an active part of the Navy's surface fleet. Next, we need 2-3 submarines (at least).

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

The stern-view of the Maestrale-class warship:

The bow of the warship has this mounted:




Octuple SAM launchers, these are surface to air missiles and would render any air threats to the ship nill.
The system provides air defence missile coverage of 2,000km². Target detection and tracking range is up to 60km and the missiles can intercept crossing and approaching targets to a range of 25km. The kill probability is high, even against highly agile crossing targets. The system can engage up to four targets simultaneously with Aspide missiles. 

Nice move, hopefully our country will also invest on surface to air defenses.

Quote from: halfcrazy_male@yahoo.com on July 08, 2013, 06:23:33 AM
Nice move, hopefully our country will also invest on surface to air defenses.

Incidentally, the DND is coordinating with Israel on medium range surface to air missiles.