#philippinenavy

The retired Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong, a former Vice Commander of the Philippine Navy (PN) recently wrote for the Rappler (yuck) News Publication stating his Observation that the acquisition of Submarines may have gone out of favor already under this Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM).

He is basing this Opinion on a recent Interview of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro who said that the PN should look at Unmanned Systems or Drones as an Alternative instead. Ong argued in his Article for keeping the Submarine buy, but in the End says that if the Department of National Defense (DND) really wants to scrap the Program, then it should do so soon, and officially.

Here is the Link to the Article at the Rappler Website: https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-navy-submarine-program-challenges/

MY THOUGHTS: I have always been a Proponent for the PN acquiring Subs based on the Lessons of the Falklands War where Argentina’s Submarines were the only ones left fighting the Naval Forces of the United Kingdom (UK) after the UK’s own Submarine sank Argentina’s biggest Battleship early in the War.

That forced almost the entire Argentinian Navy to run and stay in Port, leaving only their Subs to fight the UK. Vietnam also as of now has their Submarines as the “Tip of the Spear” of their Navy, they don’t have Surface Combatants that are larger than 103 meters, smaller than our Jose Rizal class Frigates.

But then again, I do understand the Issues with acquiring Submarines, particularly the Fact that it takes too long for them to be built. All of the Manufacturers that are offering their Subs to the PN that I have read always said it will take them around eight Years to build two Subs.

For that same amount of time, you can already build at least twice that number of Frigates already, or around four. And at less cost also, as the Frigates we are getting costs are only around Usd 300-400 million each, while the Subs costs around Usd 500 million to Usd 1 billion each.

The stunning success of Land-based Cruise Missiles and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) by Ukraine against the powerful Russian Navy in their ongoing War also seem to indicate that those Weapons will be better Cost-Effective Alternatives to the much more expensive Submarines.

In Fact I have seen some American Defense Articles talking about getting these USVs instead specifically for the Philippines, so that will just strengthen the Argument of their acquisition to our Defense Secretary since he is very much Pro-United States (US) already.

This will also help the BBM Government spend less since it seems that its Php 2 trillion Modernization Program for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is mostly just Hype, it has not allocated sure Funding for the acquisitions any more than what the Administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte has.

The BBM Government can now say, “we’re not buying Submarines not because we can’t afford to, but because there are cheaper and effective Alternatives like Cruise Missiles and USVs which are available”, ahem, char, LOL.

Just some of the latest Pictures of the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), the Lead Ship of the new Malvar class Guided Missile Frigates. It is the newest, most advanced and most capable Ship of the Philippine Navy (PN) as of now.

It is the first Ship of the PN to be equipped with Vertical Launch System (VLS) Cells for some of its Missiles, and first brand new Ship to be armed with a Gun-based Close In Weapons (CIWS) System.

The Ship has been commissioned into Service recently, but has already participated in a number of Naval Exercises. The Contract for the acquisition of the two Malvar-class Vessels was signed back in December of 2021 under the Administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

SOURCES:

Armed Forces of the Philippines Facebook Page Post, 06/05/25 – 1404H {Archived Link}

I finally decided to release the Pictures and Videos of the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Philippine Navy (PN) which I took during the Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) Event in Pasay last Year in October of 2024.

I intended to release these much earlier, but it just got buried due to one Reason or another. I’m releasing them now since I intend to discuss more about these Ships at another time soon. Anyway, the first time I saw their Scale Models at the Booth of the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), I really admired how it looked, it looks fantastic and really modern.

The Ships are based on HHI’s HDP-2200 Design, is 94.5 meters long, has a Displacement of 2,450 tonnes and a maximum Speed of 41 kilometers per hour.

However, as I got to examine it closer, I was a bit disappointed mainly because it totally lacked Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Capabilities. It has no Torpedo Launchers, and also doesn’t have a Hull Mounted Sonar (HMS).

This means that the Ship lacks the ability to detect Submarines on its own, nor does it have the ability to attack them when they are submerged. Also its Anti Surface Warfare (AsuW) and Anti-Air Capability is limited as it will rely mainly on its Cannons, namely its 76 millimeter caliber Main Gun and two 30 millimeter caliber Guns mounted on Remote Weapons Station (RWS).

Its Simbad-Remote Control or RC Missile System, the same ones being used on the Jose Rizal class Frigates, will be mainly used against Aerial Targets, but it does have a secondary capability for use against Ships also.

It has no Anti-Ship Missile (AShM) Weapons of its own, I asked the HHI Representatives then if the Vessel has any Fitted For But Not With (FFBNW) Features, but they said no.

This means that fitting AShMs, Torpedo Launchers and Sonars may not be easy since those have Space, Electrical, etc. Requirements that are not there in Place, which I think is a big loss of Opportunity as these will be some of our most Modern Ships once they go into Service.

It’s possible those Weapons and Equipment may be fitted later, but I have some doubts about that because the PN doesn’t exactly have a great Track Record when it comes to doing that with its Ships. Our Del Pilar Class Vessels have been in Service for around one and a half Decades now, and they are still the Gunboats that they were when the United States (US) transferred them to us.

The Philippine Navy (PN) just officially confirmed through a Statement to the Press the possible transfer of used, "Japan Surplus" (:D) Abukuma-class Destroyer Escorts to them, and are now making Preparations to conduct a Joint Visual Inspection (JVI) soon.

A Delegation of Naval Experts are to conduct the In-Depth Assessment of the Ships, after which further Deliberations will be made if the Vessels will indeed be acquired or not.

Meanwhile, here are more Details of the possible acquisition from to original Article of the "Yomiuri Shimbun", the Japanese News Publication which first wrote the News about it:

The Operational Guidelines for Japan's "Three Principles on the Transfer of Defense Equipment" limits any Transfer of Defense Material to only five Types: For Rescue, Transport, Alert, Surveillance and Minesweeping.

Weapons Platforms with "High Offensive Capability" such as Destroyers cannot be directly exported.

However, such Platforms can be exported by using a "Loophole" or Technicality, and that is if they go through a "Joint Development".

For the Abukuma-class Vessels, Japan intends to modify its Specifications by incorporating Equipment and Communication Facilities that is required by the Philippines, thus allowing their Export.

MY THOUGHTS: Based on the above News Items, it seems that first, the transfer is not final yet, the PN wants to see the Vessels first and then discuss Things more with Japan and themselves if they still want the Ships after the inspection.

Second, I now have some of Doubts about this transfer because of the listed Restrictions. Yes, there are Loopholes, but there will be costs involved in using those Loopholes, and unless Japan shoulders some or most of it, then the PN will again have to find where to get the Money for them.

Also this puts into Doubt the export of Japanese Weapons themselves, unless the Terms “Offensive Weapons” and “Joint Development” are more readily defined. What are the exact Definitions of these? In Theory, I think a Pistol on board a Ship being fired by a Person can be considered as an “Offensive Weapon” also.

Also what does “Joint Development” mean? Does changing the Markings on a Missile for example, already constitute as such? Again, the Definition will be Critical. But bottom line, the export of High End Weapons Systems from Japan will likely be complicated and costs Money as long as they don’t revise their Laws.

In my Opinion, I think the Japanese Defense Manufacturers are eager to export their Products, but are being slowed down by their current Laws. I think that somewhere out there, the South Korean and Indian Defense Manufacturers are now smiling … LOL

SOURCES:

PH Navy confirms 'possible transfer' of Abukuma Destroyer Escorts {Archived Link}

The Japanese News Publication "Yomiuri Shimbun" reported recently that Japan is set to export its used Abukuma class Destroyer Escorts to the Philippines, citing multiple anonymous Japanese Government Officials.

The Philippines' Defense Secretary Gilbero Teodoro reportedly agreed to the export when he met with Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani in Singapore last Month of June 2025. But so far, both the Governments of Japan and the Philippines have refused to confirm yet the Transaction as of now.

The Abukuma class Vessels first entered service with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) in the 1990s, have a Displacement of 2,000 tons, Length of 109 meters and Top Speed of 50 kilometers per hour.

They are equipped with Air and Surface Search Radars and Bow-mounted Sonars. For Cannons they have an Oto Melara Compact 76 mm caliber Main Gun and a Phalanx Close In Weapons System (CIWS).

They each can carry four RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles, have an eight round Launcher for the Anti-Submarine Rockets (ASROC) and two Triple Launchers for Lightweight Torpedoes.

MY THOUGHTS: Note that the word “export” is used, so it looks like we are buying these, hopefully at a reasonable Price, and that Japan will give us a good Loan Deal for them. These Ships seem to be pretty decent All-Around, General Purpose Ships, but lacking in Air Support since it doesn’t have Facilities for Aircraft.

I would rate these as somewhat in the same League as the former Pohang-class Vessels, but we only got one of those so far as of now and we’re getting six of these. The Abukuma class Ships are around three Decades old now, but are generally younger than the former Hamilton and former Pohang class Vessels that we have.

I hope that the Harpoon Missiles and Phalanx will be included in the Export, but I’m not too optimistic about it. I think the ASROC Launcher though will be included as it was License-built by Japan. Overall aside from its Age, I can’t think much of anything Negative about these Ships as of now.

They are not anywhere as capable as China’s Frigates and Destroyers, but much better than most of our Ships right now.

SOURCES:

Japan to export used Destroyers to Philippines to deter China, Yomiuri Reports {Archived Link}

Just some Videos of a Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) Mark Three Vessel of the Philippine Navy (PN) firing its Weapons, namely the Mini-Typhoon Remote Weapons Station (RWS) and Typhoon MLS ER Missile System during a Live Fire Exercise off the Coast of Palawan in April of this Year of 2025.

The Mini-Typhoon is equipped with a .50 caliber Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) while the Typhoon MLS ER is equipped with around four Spike Extended Range (ER) Missiles which have a range of around 8 kilometers.

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