#roygalido

The Commanding General of the Philippine Army (PA), Lieutenant General Roy Galido recently held a Press Conference wherein he said that they are planning to acquire Short Range Surface to Air Missiles (SAM), but when asked about the recent News from the International Press about the Philippines soon getting the Akash SAM from India, he says that they are still evaluating Options.

This of course does not discount the other Departments of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from getting the Akash, but so far it is the PA that has been the one that has publicly stated it is getting SAMs this Year of 2025.

Gen. Galido did also say though that they are closely monitoring the BrahMos Missile Project that the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) acquired from India. I will be making a Review of the Akash SAM, by the Way, but it’s going to take some time before I release it since it seems it is going to be a relatively long one.

Anyway, here is what Lt. Gen. Galido said during the Press Conference: "It’s part of the overall strategy of the AFP to strengthen our Territorial Defense. Investing in Missile Systems will allow us to project our Military Strength and safeguard our Country’s Sovereignty and Interests."

“This Acquisition is part of our Appropriations, meaning it was included in last Year’s Budget. The Army is set to procure Short-Range Air Defense Systems, and the Mechanism to acquire them is currently underway.”

“Our Financial Capability remains a Challenge. As the Chief of Staff mentioned, we are exploring different Options because we cannot commit to a Project without securing the means to sustain it. We have yet to identify a specific Brand. What we are focusing on is the Platform and its Capabilities. Everything is still under Review and Evaluation.”

“Our Approach will likely be based on the outcome of the Philippine Navy’s BrahMos Missile Project. We will take our Cue from that, as this remains a Work in Progress. The Akash? We don’t have that… there is nothing in the Pipeline right now.”

“As I mentioned, Financial Considerations must be fully established before any Acquisition Process can proceed.”

Here is the Link to the Article at the “Daily Tribune” Website: https://tribune.net.ph/2025/02/17/army-shopping-for-missiles

Dear Philippine Army (PA) Chief Lieutenant General Roy Galido, and also to the Rest of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) itself: To avoid confusion, stop using the Term, “Mid-Range Capability or MRC” if you don’t mean it to be the “Typhon” Missile System of the United States (US).

As far as I know, only the Typhon uses that Term, that is why it is in it’s entire Name, which is the “Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC)”. If you really mean other Weapons System, then use a more General Term, like “Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM)” for Example which the Encyclopedia Britannica says are Missiles with a Range of around 480 km.

I think you can also use “Short Range Missiles (SRM)” to refer to non-Ballistic or Cruise Missiles with similar Range. If the PA really wants to get Missiles with only around a 370 km Range, which by the Way is not enough to reach China when fired from Luzon, then get the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and its new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).

The PrSM’s maximum Range of 500 km still won’t be enough to reach China when fired from Luzon and thus won’t offend them as much, but will more than cover our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

SOURCES:

Army wants mid-range Missiles for PH Defense {Archived Link}

The Chief of the Philippine Army (PA), Lieutenant General Roy Galido said in a News Conference recently that they are still interested in acquiring the Typhon Mid Range Capability (MRC) System which will allow the Philippines to hit Targets in China even when fired all the Way from Luzon using its BGM-109 Tomahawk Missiles.

Galido said that it will probably take two or more Years to acquire the System, so at least until 2026 since it has not yet been budgeted for acquisition next Year of 2025. Galido also mentioned that how many Systems will be acquired will depend on the Budget they will be able to get for it.

As I mentioned in a previous Blog, I am lukewarm only in Terms of the acquisition of this System. While it is "very cool" for the Philippines to finally get to have its own of the legendary Tomahawk Missiles, I don't think they will do much of a difference overall.

As I said, Russia had already fired at least 800 of its own Version of the Tomahawk, the Kalibr, into Ukraine in the last three Years, as we can all see it has not been that decisive for the Russians.

My only hope is that China will not see as much a Threat the Philippine-owned Typhons compared to United States (US)-owned Typhons as it will less likely be armed with the Nuclear Version of the Tomahawk. The Possibility is still there, the Philippines and US could get into a Secret Agreement to do so, but it is less likely.

Here is the Link to the Article at the https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/12/23/news/national/philippine-military-says-will-acquire-us-typhon-missile-system/2026478