President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippine Navy is now conducting a study on whether or not it would be practical for the country to acquire its first submarine.
“That is being studied by our Navy – whether or not it is
practical and whether or not it meets our needs,” Aquino said in an interview
after touring the Navy’s latest and fastest surface combat-ready vessel, BRP
Gregorio del Pilar.
Aquino noted that in 1998, a regional neighbor bought
submarines from the Eastern bloc only to find out the vessels were not fit for
tropical weather.
Submarines are equipped with sensors and radars that can
monitor movement on the surface, and even identify nearby ships using propeller
signatures.
The Philippine Navy is reportedly planning to acquire its
first submarine, which can cost billions of dollars, not later than 2020.
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