4 Firms to Participate in DND Attack Helicopter Program

MANILA (PNA) -- Four international helicopter manufacturers have participated in the pre-bid conference of the Dept. of National Defense's attack helicopter program.

These firms are the Boeing Company, Eurocopter Group,AgustaWestland NV and MD Helicopters, Inc.

All four aerospace companies have acquired the required bidding documents.

The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation.

Founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington, the company has expanded over the years, and merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997.

Boeing moved its corporate headquarters from Seattle to Chicago, Illinois, in 2001.

It is made up of multiple business units, which are Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS); Engineering, Operations & Technology; Boeing Capital; and Boeing Shared Services Group.

The Eurocopter Group is a global helicopter manufacturing and support company.

It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopter deliveries.

Its head office is on the property of Marseille-Provence International Airport in Marignane, France, near Marseille.

Philippine navy blocks Sulu Sea

The Philippine Navy has sealed off the so-called southern backdoor to prevent the followers of the Sultan of Sulu province from traveling to Sabah, where a standoff between the sultanate’s followers and Malaysian security authorities persists.
The naval blockade was one of the measures taken by the Philippine government to prevent the escalation of the already tense situation, meant to ease the tension in and around Lahad Datu, where hundreds of Filipinos were holed up.
Lt. Commander Gregory Gerald Favic, Navy spokesman, on Thursday, said that six ships and an islander plane have been patrolling the Sulu Sea after Malaysian authorities reported the presence of loyal supporters of the sultanate. The group is headed by Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, a brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram 3rd of Sulu.
The Manila Times reports the Navy patrol team is keeping a close watch on the vicinity of the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, home provinces of Kiram’s mostly Tausog warriors.

Philippines To Buy 12 S. Korean Fighter Jets

The Philippines will buy 12 South Korean FA-50 fighter jets to strengthen its poorly armed military, government spokesmen said Jan. 30 amid increasing maritime tensions with China.

The FA-50s will be the first fighter jets to be operated by the Philippine air force since it retired the last of its U.S.-designed F-5 fighters in 2005, said President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman, Edwin Lacierda.

“We don’t have any existing jets right now that are in use, therefore it is necessary for us to upgrade. This is part of the ongoing process of modernizing our military hardware,” he told reporters.

Lacierda said the jets would be used for “training, interdiction and disaster response” and would use their aerial cameras to survey areas. He stressed that the planned purchase was “not aimed at any particular country” despite the new tensions with China over conflicting maritime territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The USS Guardian still standing on its reef in Philippines

It is now eight days since the minesweeper USS Guardian grounded on Tubbataha Reef, Philippines.Significant resources have been deployed in order to get out of this mess. Thus, the survey vessel USNS Bowditch U.S. and Philippine tender Corregidor joined the area. But for the moment, USS Guardian rest failed. The operation is more delicate than the accident occurred in very shallow water and in a protected nature reserve. It therefore requires the utmost caution to avoid pollution. The latest images provided by the U.S. Navy shows the minesweeper moved, initiating a rotation on itself, that its wooden hull covered with plastic, no doubt, very moderately appreciated.

Belonging to the U.S. 7th Fleet and based as its three sister ships in Sasebo, Japan, USS Guardian is part of a series of 14 units of the Avenger class, commissioned between 1987 and 1994. These large minesweepers, 68.7 meters long, have a displacement of 1300 tons burden.

China Dismisses Philippine Claims On Islands

China Likely to Ignore Philippines' Challenge in South China Sea

Analysts say China will likely ignore the Philippines' decision to take a long-running territorial feud to an international tribunal, continuing its insistence on solving maritime disputes without third party involvement.

Philippine foreign secretary Albert del Rosario said Tuesday his government will take the issue to an arbitral tribunal under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which has been ratified by both countries.

The Philippines wants the panel to reject China's claims to nearly the entire South China Sea. It is also challenging what it says is China's "illegal" activity around reefs and rocks it says are part of Manila's exclusive economic zone under the U.N. convention.

Most observers say China will almost certainly not agree to participate in the panel, in keeping with its long-standing policy of solving territorial disputes through direct negotiations.

Carl Thayer of Australia's University of New South Wales tells VOA the tribunal may be able to move forward without Chinese participation. He says the Philippines hopes a favorable decision would give it a moral victory.

Most crew off minesweeper stuck in Philippines

Most of the sailors on a Navy minesweeper that struck a coral reef in the Philippines left the ship Friday for safety reasons after initial efforts to free the vessel failed, the Navy said.

The ship ran aground Thursday while in transit through the Tubbataha National Marine Park, a coral sanctuary in the Sulu Sea, 640 kilometers (400 miles) southwest of Manila. There were no injuries or oil leaks, and Philippine authorities were trying to evaluate damage to the protected coral reef, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The Navy’s 7th Fleet said 72 of the 79 crew of the Guardian were transferred to a military support vessel by small boat. A small team of personnel will remain aboard and attempt to free the ship with minimal environmental impact, the statement said. The remaining seven sailors, including the commanding and the executive officer, will also be transferred if conditions become unsafe.
Philippine officials said the weather was choppy Friday with strong winds and rough seas.

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The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines said that according to an initial visual inspection, the 68-meter- (74-yard-) long, 1,300-ton Guardian damaged at least 10 meters (yards) of the reef. Aerial photographs provided by the Philippine military showed the ship’s bow sitting atop corals in shallow turquoise waters. The stern was floating in the deep blue waters. The Navy said the cause of the grounding, which took place around 2 a.m. Thursday, was under investigation.
Angelique Songco, head of the government’s Protected Area Management Board, said it was unclear how much of the reef was damaged. She said the government imposes a fine of about $300 per square meter (yard) of damaged coral.

Philippines evaluates naval offers from five countries

The Philippines Navy has received defence asset offers from five countries as part of its plan to boost maritime security and upgrade the armed forces capabilities, Philippines Defence undersecretary Fernando Manalo has revealed.

Speaking to reporters, Manalo was quoted by The Philippine Star as saying that participating countries include South Korea, Spain, Israel, Croatia and Australia.

Details on the type of naval platforms, which were proposed in the fourth quarter of 2012, were not disclosed.

The Philippines Government is currently considering two Maestrale-class frigates that were offered by Italy in January 2012.

"We are evaluating the Maestrale and doing due diligence for whether the Maestrale will really provide us the capability that we need."

"We are evaluating the Maestrale and doing due diligence [for] whether the Maestrale will really provide us the capability that we need, whether Maestrale is economical in the long-term," Manalo added.

The country originally intended to finalise a contract with Italy before the end of 2012, but it was delayed for unknown reasons.

Featuring anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities, the missile-firing Maestrale-class frigate were commissioned in 1982 by the Italian Navy.

US Drone Found Floating In Philippine Waters

Mystery as American drone is found floating off the coast of the Philippines... 1,000 miles away from the nearest U.S. base

U.S. official insists vehicle did not carry weapons or surveillance cameras

A U.S. naval drone has been found floating off the coast of the Philippines - hundreds of miles away from the nearest American military base.
The fishermen who found the 10ft orange device originally reported that it could have been a bomb, prompting local officials to send munitions experts out into the sea.
But when it was determined to be safe, the unmanned aerial vehicle was taken into the care of the Filipino navy.

The BQM-74E drone, marked 'Navy', was found by a diver and fishermen on Sunday off the coast of Masbate Island, towards the centre of the island chain.

 

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Manila said officials were trying to work out whether the one which was found near Masbate had in fact been used by the Navy.
She added that the drone was not armed and had not been used for surveillance.
While the Philippines used to host multiple U.S. military bases, the American naval facility in the country was shut down more than two decades ago.
The nearest U.S. Navy base to Masbate is the facility in the Japanese province of Okinawa, around 1,000 miles away.

Philippine communist rebels call off truce

Communist Party of the Philippines cuts ceasfire with government short, raising concerns about future of peace talks.

Communist rebels in the Philippines have called off a truce with the government, almost two weeks ahead of schedule, raising concerns about the future of peace talks.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) blamed the government for their action on Wednesday, but a spokesman for President Benigno Aquino said the CPP just wanted an excuse to cut the ceasefire short.
A CPP statement said the truce, originally scheduled to run from December 20 to January 15, had ended at noon on Wednesday because it believed the government only wanted a truce to remain in place until then.
"The [communist New People's Army (NPA)] and the people's militias should immediately assume an offensive posture and confront and frustrate the enemy campaigns of suppression," the statement said.
However, Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the government would observe the ceasefire until January 15.
He said the rebels had found an extended ceasefire to be "detrimental" to them so they chose to cut it short and blame the government.
"The CPP-NPA has always been making excuses... and now they're coming up with other stumbling blocks to peace," Lacierda told reporters.

PAF to Have New Radars

Manila, Philippines – As the military builds up its air defense capabilities, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is acquiring three radars with a project cost of about P2.3 billion, said PAF vice commander Major General Raul Dimatatac.

Interviewed at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, Dimatatac told reporters, “We are looking at installing three radars for our three major sites.“

The radars, he said, are among those listed in the PAF’s wish list in the P75-billion military modernization budget in the next five years.

“Although we were given by the government P75 billion for the next five years . . . we have a lot of concerns insofar as security is concerned so we really have to prioritize,“ said Dimatatac.

He added that for the Air Force, among the items lined up for acquisition aside from the radar system are surface attack aircraft (SAA), light lift and long range patrol aircraft, and additional UH1H helicopters.

The PAF vice commander has earlier expressed pleasure over the activation of the third three C-130 Lockheed Hercules cargo plane in the PAF inventory.

Military Trucks from KIA

The Philippine’s defense chief says the government has signed separate contracts worth 163 billion pesos (about $39 million) with Italian and South Korean companies to supply helicopters and trucks as part of efforts to modernize its poorly equipped military.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Thursday the Philippines will purchase three multi-purpose AW 109 helicopters for its navy from AugustaWestland SPA of Italy amounting to 1.33 billion pesos ($32 million).

He says Kia Motors Corp. will supply 60 field ambulances and 12 trucks all worth 300.78 million ($7.33 million) pesos.

Gazmin says the purchases show the country’s “louder and clearer” intent to modernize its military.

The Philippine military is fighting a decades-long communist insurgency and battling Islamic militants while facing increasing tension over territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.

PH protests Chinese patrol vessel

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called on China to respect the territorial sovereignty of the Philippines after Beijing sent its first patrol vessel to areas claimed by Manila.
"The Philippines strongly objects to Chinese patrols of Philippine maritime domain in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea)," DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said in a statement on Friday, December 28.
Hernandez added that the presence of patrol vessels in disputed areas "will not validate the 9-Dash line [map] and is contrary to China's obligations under international law," including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
State-of-the-art patrol vessel
Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday that a state-of-the-art patrol boat equipped with helipad, the first of its kind in the region, had been dispatched to the South China Sea.
This was ahead of the new Sansha City administration-enforced rules to take effect on January 1.
In late November, China said it had granted its border patrol police the right to board and turn away foreign ships entering the disputed waters, raising fears of a confrontation.
Sansha's jurisdiction covers part of the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

Contract for Acquisition of Naval Helicopters Signed

DND Office for Public Affairs | 27 December 2012 - The contract of agreement for the acquisition of three naval helicopters was signed at the Department of National Defense last December 20, 2012.

With a contract price of PhP 1, 337,176,584.00 and signed between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and supplier AugustaWestland S.P.A, the acquisition project was done under negotiated procurement through Section 53.2 (Emergency Procurement) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. 9184.

“The acquisition of these naval helicopters is one concrete step towards the fulfillment of our goal to modernize the Philippine Navy, and our Armed Forces in general,” Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin said.

On November 28, 2012, AugustaWestland was declared by the Naval Helicopter Acquisition Project (NHAP) Negotiating Committee as the single calculated and responsive proponent after going through the process of a negotiated procurement.

The Italian Ministerio Della Difesa conducted a review of AugustaWestland’s proposal for the procurement of AW 109 Power Helicopter, including related logistic support and found out that the price per helicopter “seems to have been progressively reduced”, meaning they were sold cheaper.

Philippines. The U.S. will increase its military presence

The United States will strengthen its military presence in the Philippines, authorities announced Wednesday the archipelago without giving specific numbers, citing an increase in the number of vessels and military aircraft as well as U.S. soldiers.

Military officials of the two countries met in Manila in the day to discuss the issue amid regional tensions caused by Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The increase in the number of U.S. troops will be on a rotating basis, and a five-year agreement on conducting joint military exercises will also be adopted this week. However, officials of both countries emphasize that there is no question of reviving the presence in the archipelago of permanent U.S. military bases, the last of which closed in 1992.

Philippines - Bidding for Purchase of 21 Helicopters Fails

The bidding for the purchase of 21 UH-1 helicopters has been declared a failure after bidders fell short of satisfying some requirements, a defense official said yesterday.

Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said the two firms that submitted offers had failed to meet certain eligibility requirements.

The opening of bids for the 21 helicopters was held last Tuesday at the Department of National Defense (DND) office in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The government seeks to use the helicopters to meet the airlift requirements during the 2013 polls and to conduct disaster response operations.

Six companies bought bid documents but only two – Star Defense System/Radom Israel and Rise Aircraft Services Inc. – joined the bidding.

Manalo told The STAR among the issues tackled during the bidding is whether the bidders can deliver the helicopters by the end of February.

The Air Force previously recommended that the helicopters be delivered by Feb. 28, 2013 to meet the higher demand for airlift requirements during the  elections.

Manalo said the two firms could still ask the DND Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to reconsider its decision to declare them ineligible to bid. If the companies submit motions for reconsideration, the BAC will tackle them in a meeting next week.

Philippine Loses Chance to Acquire Attack Helicopters

                                       Eurocopter AS555C3 Fennec demostrator for Pakistan Army

The Philippines has lost an opportunity to acquire 10 attack helicopters from France, a defense official said recently.

Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Peter Galvez said the 10 attack helicopters initially offered by a French firm are no longer available.

The helicopters had been re-offered to Pakistan by the time the DND was given permission to acquire them through negotiations.

“The helicopters were produced for Pakistan. However, Pakistan had some problems with procurement so the helicopters were opened to the market,” Galvez told The STAR.

“We had planned to acquire the helicopters and had to clarify some questions (by agencies overseeing the procurement). By the time we were allowed to acquire the helicopters, Pakistan had initiated some moves to rework the procurement,” he added.

These developments prompted French firm Eurocopter to offer the helicopters again to Pakistan.

The helicopters could have been used by the military to defend the country’s territorial integrity and conduct internal security operations.

Despite the apparent setback to its modernization efforts, the DND said it continues to find suppliers that can upgrade the military’s capabilities.

“We are now looking into other short-listed participants from European countries,” Galvez said.

“We are working double-time to meet the time frame we set despite the drawbacks we are encountering,” he added.

Philippines : DND Eyes 100 New APCs from Italy

The Department of National Defense (DND) is planning to acquire 100 armored personnel carriers (APC)s and dozens of artillery equipment from Italy in support of the military’s capability upgrade program.

Documents obtained by The STAR showed that the Italian government might donate 100 units of operational M113 APCs and 25 units of operational FH70 155 mm howitzers.

The possible donations are in connection with the procurement of other equipment that may become part of what the DND called the “Italian package.”

The DND is currently negotiating with Italy for the procurement of Maestrale-class ships, medium-lift fixed wing aircraft (C27J-Spartan), special mission aircraft and three naval helicopters.

If the procurement pushes through, the 100 APCs and 25 long-range cannons may be included in the package.

Royal Brunei Navy and Philippine Navy Conducts SEAGULL Exercise

MUARA NAVAL BASE - The Royal Brunei Navy and the Philippine Navy will be conducting a combined naval exercise code-named Maritime Training Activity (MTA) SEAGULL 05/12 on 19 - 25 November 2012. This is the fifth in the series of bilateral engagements between both navies, which is held bi-annually. The Royal Brunei Navy will be host to this year's event and all military activities will be conducted in Negara Brunei Darussalam.

This training activity aims to strengthen bilateral security relationship and cooperation as well as to enhance interoperability between the two navies, promote mutual understanding and to bolster the existing long-standing relationship among the officers and men of both navies.

Philippines urges ASEAN to unite on sea dispute

Philippine President Benigno Aquino urged Southeast Asian countries Thursday to present a united front to China over the South China Sea at an upcoming regional summit.

Aquino said all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should speak with one voice at the East Asia summit in Cambodia next week.

"We can talk to the other claimants that aren't ASEAN members but since we want to maintain ASEAN's centrality, we must have just one voice in ASEAN... in this regard," he told reporters.

He noted that ASEAN included four countries with some overlapping claims to islands and waters in the South China Sea -- the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. Non-members China and Taiwan also have their own claims.

ASEAN also includes Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.

China insists it has sovereign rights to nearly all of the South China Sea despite the competing claims of the four ASEAN members to parts of the waters.

In July a regional ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh ended in disarray over the issue

Philippines eyes procurement of small boats, ammunition equipment from Canada

The Philippines is planning to procure small boats and ammunition equipment from Canada as part of its continued efforts to upgrade the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

This was announced by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Tuesday after he signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation last Saturday with Canadian Minister of International Trade Ed Fast.

The small boats that Manila plans to buy should be able to maneuver rough waters, he said.

Manila already has placed an order to improve the country's capability to produce ammunition, Gazmin said. "We are also looking at small boats for rough waters."