- The Philippine Army is expecting delivery of additional and modern weaponry and military equipment this year
- Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano said the modernized PA arsenal is aimed at ensuring that ground troops are adequately armed
- The expected delivery follows the completed ones last year which include carbine units and other military vehicles
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Army’s (PA) arsenal is expecting an upgrade this year as part of the current administration’s continuing modernization program for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
During a speech at the PA’s 119th founding anniversary celebration last March 22, Army commander Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano disclosed that they are expecting the delivery of additional infantry fighting and fire support vehicles, including 155 mm howitzers, light utility vehicles, 60-mm mortars, 40-mm grenade launchers, rocket launcher light units and 50-watt armored vehicle-configuration radios.
The Army’s projected modernized weaponry is aimed at ensuring that ground troops, particularly those deployed in Mindanao fighting Muslim rebel groups, will be adequately armed in combat.
Ano said this will also further enhance the soldier’s capability to support the government’s battle against insurgency in other parts of the country.
The Army chief also highlighted the completed delivery last year of 56,844 R-4 carbine units, which are the replacement of the Vietnam-era M-16 automatic rifles, 124 additional armored vehicles, six armored personnel carriers fitted with .50 caliber remote-controlled weapon systems, 60 field ambulances and 300 light utility vehicles.
On top of this is 2,000 assorted radio and communication equipment the Army earlier acquired, boosting its command-and-control effectivity over various units of the branch.
At least P47-B worth of military assets acquisition has been approved by President Aquino last year as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program initiated by the present administration.
The Philippines has allocated P75-B (US $ 1.7-B) for AFP modernization from 2013 to 2017, which is roughly P15-B (US $ 335-M) a year.
It came at a crucial time when the country is deeply embroiled in a bitter maritime dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea.
The figures however, still pales in comparison to China which spent a staggering US $ 132-B (P5.89-T) for its military in 2014 alone, which is almost equal to the Philippines’ annual budget for 2015.
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