AFP Modernization gets the boot at worst possible time

Lorenzana in an FA50

Modernization gets the budget axe

PhiDefense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted that much-awaited big-ticket programs such as the Navy's "Corvette" acquisition and the Air Force's Multi-Role Fighter project will likely fall victim to the budget axe.  The protracted recession and swelling national debt was expected to be enough to mothball these relatively expensive acquisitions.  With the door shut on these much-needed upgrades, the armed forces should refocus their energies on pushing for more cost effective projects that limit the budgetary impact while still checking some boxes.

Get a little help from your friends?

The most obvious route Lorenzana can take is to "phone a friend" or to seek help from allies.  The Koreans supplied the bulk of the AFP's major new acquisitions (FA50 and Rizal frigates) while the US sold us relatively old but still very serviceable ex-USCG cutters.  With budgets tightening, perhaps we can look at cost effective solutions out there, some of which are have been employed in the past. So here are some of the available options left to the Philippines which could still 1) augment current assets and 2) limit impact on the ever shrinking budget.   

Philippine Navy - US Hamilton cutter and additional Cyclones   

The US recently retired the last of its venerable Hamilton cutters with at least one hull still available.  Meanwhile, the US Navy has also begun to retire its Cyclone patrol vessels with 3 sitting idle and ready for takers.  The Philippine Navy currently operates 3 ex-Hamiltons and 1 ex-Cyclone and although there are many who would scoff at acquiring hand me downs, both ships represent a quick and serviceable fix to the current requirement for assets on the cheap.  Furthermore, should the PN acquire additional Hamiltons and or Cyclones, training and familiarity with the ship will also shorten training hours for crew members ensuring that the assets will be ready almost from the get go.  

The US has likely stripped down these ships down to the bone by now but will likely leave the Oto Melara on the remaining Hamilton, the USCG Mellon and retain the MK38 25 mm gun on the Cyclones.  From here the PN can take delivery of the additional Hamilton and 3 Cyclones and have them ready for offshore patrol and littoral patrol in as little as a year.  With the current US administration in the mood to rekindle the long-standing alliance, we can be sure these assets are ours for the taking at a fraction of the cost. 

Philippine Air Force - Double down on FA50s with possible "freebie"  

There has been much opposition to doubling down on additional FA50s as detractors decry the Golden Eagle's lack of capabilities.  Nobody is going to believe that the FA50 is a full MRF replacement but given the lack of fast jet assets and the limited budget, the FA50 remains the cost effective solution to the current crisis.  The lack of AESA radar, BVR missile capability and short range are limitations indeed.  However, at the moment the glaring lack of assets should scream for a solution at the soonest.  Despite all its shortcomings, the FA50 costs a third of the F16 and a half of the Gripen all the while providing the PAF with additional assets that can be our stand-in fighter for the time being.  Familiarity with the current fleet will also ensure limited to no transition to the additional aircraft.     

The block 20 upgrades will hopefully address the aircraft's shortcomings with the FA50 hopefully getting AESA radar and the ability to carry medium range BVR missiles.  Other upgrades to extend the limited range of the aircraft will also hopefully be addressed.  Lastly, the prospect of purchasing an additional squadron or two from Korea could also help convince the Koreans to throw in another Pohang corvette just to sweeten the deal.  We got a Pohang the last time we bought a squadron of Golden Eagles, perhaps we'll get another one as well right?  Instead of crying over the spilled milk from the failed MRF bid, perhaps the PAF can switch gears and double down on the FA50 block 20, a move that could also help solve the the PN's woes as well should additional Pohangs be on the table.    

Credible force on a shoe string budget

Don't get me wrong.  If we had an unlimited budget I would very well be happy to chase the planned Corvettes and the F16 as our first MRF in decades.  The problem and reality before us however is that a) we don't have money and b) we need assets that are serviceable and reliable, all on a budget.  Additional assets for both the PN and PAF are available on the cheap, without sacrificing much in terms of performance.  Familiarity with the proposed acquisitions should also ensure limited transition time in terms of actual use and also maintenance and repair with the economies of scale kicking in.  

An additional Hamilton for the offshore patrol force, 3 Cyclone littoral patrol craft, 1 or 2 Pohangs from Korea and a squadron or 2 of the FA50 block 2 will help build a credible defense force, all on a shoe string budget.  Once the economy improves and budgets are restored, we can then consider chasing the MRFs of our dreams and the "Corvettes" that we had hoped for.       

USCGC Mellon and Douglas Munro Available?

With tensions running high in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) the glaring need for additional hulls for the Philippines is back in the spotlight.  More than 200 Chinese "fishing vessels" moored close to Julian Felipe reef for several months, citing bad weather as the reason for their prolonged stay in the area.  With no storms in sight, the Philippines "fired off" several protests while sending in a handful of coast guard and BFAR ships to the area.  The Philippines has so far refrained from sending in the bulk of its offshore combat force, opting to dispatch relatively lightly armed and smaller vessels into the area.  With still no resolution in sight, the lack of assets remains and the Philippine Navy nor the Coast Guard have any ships on order.

The Philippine Navy only has a handful of combat ready vessels which by all accounts are relatively lightly armed.  Two OPVs are currently in drydock with the BRP Andres Bonifacio undergoing maintenance while the flagship, BRP Del Pilar is still undergoing repairs after badly damaging its propellers 2 years ago.  The two new acquisitions, the Jose Rizal light frigates are relatively undergunned having postponed the purchase of their close in weapons systems and VLFS. 

BRPs Bonifacio and Del Pilar. 

In total, the offshore combat force totals a mere 9 ships consisting of the aforementioned pair of "tweener" frigates from Korea, 3 former Hamilton class US coast guard cutters, 1 former Korean Pohang class corvette and 3 former UK Peacock class patrol craft.  The ongoing Felipe reef incident has more than 200 Chinse vessels swarming the area so the imbalance in numbers in glaring.  The Philippines is in dire need for assistance.      

Maxdefense has posted two separate entries recently detailing possible plans to beef up the fleet immediately with retired and decommissioned US assets.  The "boats" on offer from the US would be a trio of Cyclone class littoral patrol craft, sister ships of the BRP Mariano Alvarez (shown left), which come in at roughly 350 tons and 52 meters.  The Cyclones would be a welcome addition to the littoral combat force, all the more since several PN ships of that size are up for retirement.  Relatively lightly armed with only 2 RCWS and other light machine guns, the patrol craft will still be able to bridge the gap between now and when the Shaldag patrol craft come on line in 2 or 3 years time.  Cyclones have carried stinger missiles in the past and could likely be outfitted with Rafael's SPIKE ER or even NLOS missiles, which will eventually be utilized on the Shaldags.

Meanwhile, Maxdefense also notes that there are "ships" being offered by the US to the Philippines

USCGC Munro

with the former and familiar US coast guard cutter being one of them.  The last 2 Hamilton class cutters have since been decommissioned, the USCGC Mellon and USCGC Douglas Munro, and although both had previously been earmarked for other countries (Vietnam and Bahrain), it remains to be seen if the US diverts these vessels to an offer to her longest standing ally in the hotspot West Philippine sea.

The Philippines should definitely jump at acquiring both the Cyclone class patrol craft and one or even both of the Hamilton cutters as they represent a quick and easy stop gap measure to beefing up our roster of ships.  Both ship classes have existing sister ships in service with the Philippine navy which would limit the need for extended training and maintenance for these vessels given our sailors' familiarity with the said ships.  And although we expect the US to strip down these ships to the bare bones, 5 additional hulls at the ready would still represent an upgrade from nothing. The cutters have proven to be a dependable platform and would represent a cost effective solution as the planned corvette acquisition project appears to be delayed.  Meanwhile, although the PN has the Shaldags on order for its littoral combat force, the Cyclones would fill in the need immediately as more assets are long overdue for retirement.

BRP Mariano Alvarez

We can hope to retrofit and slap some cost effective armaments to help round out the prospective acquisitions.

For the Hamilton cutters, the US will likely turn over the ships with only the 76mm Oto Melara.  We can simply follow the blue print of her sister ships the BRP Alacaraz and Del Pilar by adding on a pair of Mk.Mod3 remote control weapons systems mid ships while also tacking on a pair of SIMBAD RC launchers to provide short range air defense.  Lastly, the PN can also mount an auto canon aft where the Phalanx CIWS is positioned.  Wish list of course is to equip these vessels with some long range anti-ship missiles, perhaps like the Haeseong C-star missiles found on the Rizals but I doubt the Navy will cough up the dough for that.  The Cyclones meanwhile will likely only retain the 2 RCWS auto cannons fore and aft and the PN can simply augment this with a single SPIKE NLOS launcher to push out the patrol craft's strike range.    

BRP Alcaraz

The Philippines should jump at the opportunity to load up on up to 5 additional hulls at the cheap while also representing very effective stop gap measures to the hull shortage problem.  Familiarity with both classes of ships will help ease the transition while the PN will only need to tack on a couple of band aid remedies to the probable armament that they will be delivered with.  Here's to hoping we get more of the venerable Hamiltons and welcome a trio of new Cyclones at the soonest.       

The cost effective acquisitions the Armed Forces of the Philippines should prioritize post Covid-19

Covid-19 has hit the Philippine economy particularly hard with the Philippines now in a recession.  With the government in conservation mode due to the pandemic, it looks like big ticket items like the much-anticipated Multi-Role Fighter acquisition and Corvette purchase may be questioned by congress.  But given the escalation in tension in the West Philippine sea, the Philippine Armed Forces (AFP) can not afford to sit down and do nothing in the arms race.  

The AFP's main mission objectives are to be able to 1st detect threats that enter Philippine air space or seas, identify these trespassers, intercept the intruders and engage or neutralize should they pose a credible threat.  

With the lack of assets for both the PN and the PAF, cost effective solutions should focus on improving our ability to detect and identify, with less emphasis on full scale combat but retaining some capability to deal deadly force when needed.  For full scale encounters, we can always call on the mutual defense treaty with the US.   

The AFP is currently pursuing two hallmark (and expensive) projects, one for the Airforce and one for the Navy. 

These two projects are the 1) Corvette acquisition project of the Navy and the 2) Multi Role fighter (MRF) acquisition of the Airforce.  Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, it looks as if AFP is still hell-bent on securing a lone squadron of MRF and a pair of Corvettes shortly after the end of Duterte's term.  

Now that we're faced with budget cuts, perhaps it would be better for the AFP to pursue less expensive yet still effective solutions to their needs.  Here are some examples as to how the AFP can do this with their existing projected funding for the Corvette acquisition and MRF programs.  Proposed acquisitions would put a priority on detection and identification with less emphasis on neutralization.  

1) Divert the Php28 bn for 2 Corvettes to 5 upgraded OPVs

The Navy dreams of having 2 brand new corvettes, armed to the teeth, after securing relatively under-gunned frigates with a pair of Jose Rizal class ships (pictured left) based on the HDF2600 design from Korea's HHI.  The budget for the two Corvettes was set at Php28 bn or Php14 bn per ship.  The Corvettes are projected to be even more heavily armed than the existing Rizals (which incidentally cost Php9bn per), likely having more anti-ship missiles, a working 8-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) and its very own Close In Weapon System (CIWS).  

As fitted, the planned Corvettes would pack quite a punch and likely keep on them on par with corvettes of rival navies.  However, given the amount of ground (or sea) that the Navy needs to cover, wouldn't funds be better spent on increasing the number of hulls at the Navy's disposal while still ensuring that these new assets are able to effective detect, identify and then engage with decent deadly force if need be? Enter the Offshore Patrol Vessel project.

The PN has a separate project to acquire 6 brand new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) with the contract likely to be awarded to Austal from Australia.  The OPV is an 83 meter vessel designed to show flag and to a lesser extent engage in a full blown skirmish with an intruding vessel.  As designed, the future OPV will carry a 76 mm naval gun and two remote control weapons stations (RCWS) as armament.  This may appear pretty meager but given its primary role as patrol vessel, it does appear to be comparable to other OPVs lets says of the British Royal Navy.  

At roughly Php5 bn a pop, an OPV (pictured right) is a cheap and efficient route for the PN to quickly increase the number of hulls at disposal and improve the ability of PN to patrol our waters.  The planned Php28 bn allocated for two corvettes can be channeled to 5 additional OPVs with change of about Php3 bn.      

Up-arming the OPVs from Php3bn savings

The Php3 bn difference can revert back to the BTr as savings or can hopefully be used to upgrade the planned OPVs current configuration of armament.  Should this be an option, the PN can use the savings towards up-arming the OPVs by ensuring that all ships of its class are outfitted with some form of air defense with surface-to-air weapons.  As designed, the OPVs will not have dedicated air defense capabilities outside its complement of 2 RCWS (likely 25 mm cannons) and its 76 mm naval gun.  

An affordable solution to this issue would be to outfit the OPVs with a pair of twin SIMBAD RC Mistral launchers (shown  right) for short-range air defense (SHORAD) of the OPVs.  These are currently being used on the Jose Rizal class frigates as their band-aid air defense solution.  The SIMBAD launcher is relatively affordable, at $1.5 mn (Php75 mn) and they can consider equipping the entire fleet of 11 OPVs with 2 each of these missile launchers.  That leaves the PN with roughly Php1.35 bn ($27mn) left for other upgrades.

Meanwhile, the PN can also opt to configure a number of its OPVs as "Flight 2 ships", with upgraded armament by up-gunning its existing weapons to have them pack a little more punch.  The OPV platform can be used to have a Flight-1 patrol ship and a Flight-2 assault ship, a more heavily armed OPV to call in should they need ASW or more fire power.   

There are several options for doing this, one of which is maximizing the RCWS by slapping on a couple of short-range Martlet missiles to the autocannon, like the MSI defense SIGMA (shown left) which retails at roughly $5.2 million . 

Similarly, PN could configuring a Rafael Typhoon weapons station  with both a 25 mm cannon and a pair of SPIKE NLOS missiles (shown right) to feature both an autocannon and missile armament.  SPIKE NLOS missiles are Rafael's medium range missiles with a range of 25 km.

Modest upgrades such as these would push out the OPVs strike range to up to 25km and help them wield a little more venom if push does come to shove.  Lastly, the PN can also opt to outfit the flight 2 OPV with SEA J+S twin torpedo launchers to make them ASW ready (shown below), in place of the planned smaller RHIB and crane midship.  

Instead of burning Php28 bn on two corvettes, the PN can possibly have up to 11 OPVs with upgraded weapons to increase its ability to cover more area in the West Philippine Sea. Sure we give up punching power with the smaller, less heavily armed OPVs but the additional hulls should be enough reason to prioritize more OPVs over the corvettes, for now.  

The introduction of the Flight-2 sub class of OPV could also prove to be a cost-effective way to increase the number of hulls at the PN's disposal, thereby improving their ability to detect and identify threats while still carrying a decent amount of firepower to wield in case of conflict. 

---The "Flight 2" OPV ---

The upgraded OPVS could look like this, making it sort of a light corvette.

a) 76 mm STRALES naval gun x 1

b)  Rafael Typhoon weapons station with 25 mm canon and 2 SPIKE NLOS missiles x 2

c) Twin SIMBAD MISTRAL RC launchers x 2

d) Sea J+S twin torpedo tubes x 2 

 2) Use the $1.2 bn allocated for MRFs towards LRPAs and additional FA50s

Long range patrol aircraft for the PAF

I understand the hype and allure of securing a squadron of F-16 Vipers or similarly 12 spanking brand new JAS Gripens as the PAF has for years been bereft of true blue multi role fighters.  However, for the $1.2 bn price tag, burning all that cheddar for 12 fighter jets may not be the best and most cost effective bet.  For one, having a lone squadron of 4.5 or 5th generation fighters was never going to automatically pole vault the PAF back into the regional arms race or let alone get China to piss its pants.  

Secondly, the PAF still lacks an adequate number of aircraft while also lacking in capability to carry out specific missions.  For example, currently PAF does not have a single long range patrol plane (LRPA).  PAF has rekindled its drive to acquire at least one of these planes recently but in order to improve our ability to detect potential intruders, we will likely need many more of these aircraft.  

The PAF has roughly Php5.9 bn earmarked for two LRPA or a budget of $60 mn for each plane with Airbus' C295 (pictured right) and Leonardo's P-72A as front runners.  Allocating some money away from the $1.2 bn for MRFs to secure even more of these LRPAs will greatly enhance the PAFs ability to patrol and detect intruders.  Multi-role fighters would be nice to have but do nothing in terms of improving the PAFs coverage and patrol capabilities unless you would suggest flying out these expensive jets to do daily patrols of the West Philippine Sea.  Perhaps it would be more sensible for PAF to prioritize this project before locking in the lion's share of the budget on a limited set of high flying but pricey fighters.

Secure an AWACS plane

The Philippines has moved to secure additional radar assets and even invested in a ground based air defense system to beef up its ability to detect identify and even neutralize threats.  What the PAF can also hope to acquire is an Airborne Warning and Control System plane or AWACS to extend its detection capability to effectively maximize the capability of its existing FA50 fleet.  These "flying radars" will help detect and more importantly identify potential intruders and will also extend the radar range of the current light fighters of the PAF. 

Relatively inexpensive options for this would be the C295 version (pictured above to the left) or something similar to what the Royal Thai air force purchased.  The PAF recently purchased a small G280 gulf stream business jet (shown right), supposedly to be a command and control aircraft but analysts suspect it to lack the equipment to be anything more than a VVIP transport.       

Settle for additional FA50 light fighters..for now

With a portion of the MRF budget diverted to the purchase of several LRPAs, the PAF may opt to double down on the current PAF fighter: the FA50 Golden Eagle to shore up its fleet of interceptors.  

Although smaller in stature and understandably not as capable compared to its bigger brother like the F-16 Viper or other MRFs, the FA50 remains a cost effective solution to the PAFs problem of lack of air assets and the need for (interim) stand-in fighter jets.  

The knock against the FA50s (shown right) continues to be its lack of AESA radar, BVR missile capability and relatively limited range (1,8000 kilometers).  All of these delinquencies however are currently being addressed by upgrades from KAI on its block-20 design. Upgrades that will be on the block-20 FA50 include the ability to carry both Derby and Python BVR missiles on top of plans for aerial refueling kits and or conformal tanks to extend the FA50's range.  The best thing about the FA50 is that they cost 1/3 of an F-16 Viper while offering supersonic speed, 7 weapons hardpoints and a radar that will eventually be up to EASA standard: a decent choice for PAFs stand-in interceptor.  

Settling for 2 additional squadrons of the FA50 block-20 light fighters helps address the PAFs ability to neutralize potential threats after detection and identification by the PAFs projected fleet of LRPAs and AWACs plane.  Working in tandem with the LRPAs and the AWACS plane, the FA50 can prove to be a cost-effective solution to the PAFs needs given a meager budget, especially once the block-20 FA50s are available.     

With the $1.2 bn earmarked for the expensive MRF program, the PAF can opt to secure up to 2 additional squadrons of FA50s, an AWACS plane and 3 LRPAs.  That's 28 aircraft for the price of 12 MRFs!  And although 12 brand new MRFs would be nice to have, leapfrogging the glaring deficiency in PAF's detection and identification to focus solely on neutralization would put the PAF at a disadvantage.  If we can't detect or identify the threats, those MRFs still won't be able to neutralize them.   

Deploying a mix of light fighters, long range patrol aircraft and even an AWACS would be a more effective strategy for improving our ability to detect, identify and then neutralize threats.  The LRPAs alongside the AWACS are better suited to patrol our skies while two additional squadrons of FA50 block 20 light fighters can act as a decent stand-in interceptor force with its planned upgrades for AESA radar and BVR missiles.  Despite the MRFs increased payload, range and firepower it'll be difficult (and expensive!) to patrol the vast skies with just those 12 fighter jets.  

More is better and the focus on detection over neutralization

Given the tight budget afforded to the AFP, the PHL should focus on increasing our capability to detect and identify with less emphasis on neutralization.  Currently, there seems to be too much emphasis on neutralization with the PAF pushing for assets that wield a considerable amount of firepower from the get go but this begs the question: how can we hit em if we don't know they're (the intruders) there?  Why should we strike if we can't effectively identify them?

For the money the PAF set aside for 12 MRFs, the PAF can have a complement of LRPAs, an AWACS aircraft and 24 brand new upgraded light fighters (28 aircraft in total).  

Meanwhile, for the same money allocated for 2 expensive corvettes, the PN can upgrade all of its planned fleet of OPVs (6 pending) with SHORAD, procure 5 additional ships and perhaps build an OPV Flight-2 (light corvette) with upgraded armaments.   

The AFP should steer its modest budget to getting more units out there even at the expense of some fire power.  Beefing up the PAF and the PN with modern equipment that aids in detection and identification should be the key while still ensuring that our units retain a decent amount of firepower to strike back and inflict damage if necessary.   

Manileno's guide to winter wear in Sapporo (and other cold places) part 2

We've officially entered the "ber months" in an otherwise bizarre and sad year.  Hitting September has most of us nostalgic over travels of not so long ago so just wanted to get up this entry on my guide to winter wear, Manileno style. 

Full disclaimer: I've not not been to every conceivable location in the world but I have done some travel in autumn, late autumn, winter and spring so here are some tips I've pieced together for those of you looking to build wardrobe for the cold weather in your next trip.. whenever that will be.

Part 2 of a two part series, after going through some basics, we can get down to more specific pieces I've used, tried out or maybe just seen in stores for our options.

Manileno's guide to base layers:

Uniqlo Heattech (status: purchased)

I've used Heattech for almost all of my trips, running the gamut from warm to ultra warm 

Here’s an approximation of ranges for each level 

HT Warm: 10-20 (degrees Celsius)

HT Extra warm: 5-15

HT Ultra warm: 10 degrees and colder

Pros: Decent warmth with varying levels to help you customize. readily available and affordable

Cons: none really but I wish they had an even warmer level. The ultra warm takes long to dry out when washed though 

Price range: P790 for warm, P990 for extra warm, P1290 for ultra warm

Verdict: 

Buy it. Relatively affordable while offering decent warmth. Readily available in MNL 

Under Armour cold gear (status: purchased)

I've used UA cold gear in US winters and during a trip to Kyoto in early December

Pros: warm, lightweight with great ventilation (less sweaty) and dries quickly after washing

Cons: not readily available in the Philippines, relatively expensive if you source from abroad

Price range: not readily available in MNL 

Verdict: 

Buy it if you can, but hard to source in MNL

Decathlon Wedze (status: purchased)

Used a pair of these during a trip to Sapporo (-5 to 10 degrees), both the basic and premium versions

Pros: cheaper than Uniqlo and UA

Cons: poor ventilation (I was sweating), was very itchy especially for the "premium" version

Price range: P280 for basic, P500 for middle market, P700 for premium 

Verdict: 

Don't bother. If you're on a budget, buy 2 or 3 Uniqlo HT Warm and simply wash them

Manileno's guide to insulation layers:

Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Parka (status: want it)

I have the version without the hood (Uniqlo ULD jacket) and I find it invaluable since you can pack it away into your backpack and bring it out when you need it. I keep one in my carry-on luggage and I’ve whipped it out upon arrival during winter trips to Milan and Sapporo. I do wish however I got the parka version, given that it has more down content and comes with a hood!

Pros: instant extra warmth and pack-able into a tight ball (picture below) for convenience 

Cons: Warm but not super warm all things considered. 

Price range: P3,990 

Verdict: 

Buy it! Warmth on demand.  

How I've used it: Pack it in your carry-on luggage and bring it out upon arrival to keep you alive until you can access your heavier jacket in your maleta. Won't stand up to extreme temperatures so don't go charging into subzero conditions with only this unless in tandem with other pieces.

Uniqlo fleece zip  (status: purchased)

Bought it as an add-on insulation layer to match with other pieces to build a system

Pros: Provides modest warmth and can act as 1st layer of insulation

Cons: None really except that fleece doesn't have good ventilation so I tend to sweat sometimes

Price range: P990 to P1,290 

Verdict: 

Buy it. Easy to mix and match with our pieces. Affordable

--On top of these examples you can also use an assortment of wool and fleece sweaters to act as additional insulation layers--

Manileno's guide to outer layers:

Uniqlo's Blocktech parka (status: tried it out in store)

I've tried this out in the store and it claims to have excellent wind and water protection

Pros: Water and windproof 

Cons: Almost no insulation, does not allow "volting-in" with other Uniqlo insulation layers 

Price range: P2,990 

Verdict: 

Consider it.  Affordable outer shell in case you want to pickup a jacket with good wind/water protection.

Notes: Several reviewers have said this jacket tends to run small, so you might want to get a size bigger than your usual. 

Uniqlo seamless down parka (status: purchased)

Used in Tokyo (5 degrees) and Sapporo (-5 degrees) in late December. Not stylish and surprisingly did not hold up well in terms of warmth!

Pros: Down jacket, water repellent material

Cons: Disappointing in terms of warmth. Bulky, so jacket was hard to pack! 

Price range: P7,999

Verdict: 

Don’t bother with this. Expensive and doesn't pack a lot of heat. Oh did I mention it's hard to pack??

How I've used it: Had to augment with a Uniqlo fleece zip shirt given lack of insulation power.  A better alternative to this jacket is to get a 1) ULD parka and 2) pair with a fleece hoodie, cost will be lower at comparable warmth with more flexibility.

Uniqlo reversible parka (status: purchased)

This jacket pairs a water repellent layer with a thin cotton lining that technically is "reversible" but I generally use it with the cotton layer on the inside.  The jacket is easy to pack away and has been designated as the "PPE" jacket for our flights.  The jacket will be perfect for airport temperatures and on the airplane but at best can be used as an outer layer for early fall.  

Price range: P1,990

Verdict:  

Buy it.  Versatile and affordable.  

Notes: Relatively inexpensive jacket that you can use as PPE on the plane. Can also be used as a light jacket in early Autumn and double duty as a rain jacket in Manila.    

Manileno's guide to "System Jackets"

The best jacket for me is one that pairs a waterproof shell with a warm insulation layer with the two usually able to "volt-in" by way of zippers.  This also allows you to use just the outer layer as a windbreaker/rain jacket or the warm insulation layer as a stand-alone sweater, making the system jacket a versatile and must-have piece in your winter wonderland wardrobe. 

Premium system jackets such as the "Interchange" jackets from Columbia or the Tri-climate jacket series of North Face's provide excellent wind protection with an insulation layer for even the coldest trips to Sapporo or the Nordics. These system jackets only need to be augmented by an additional sweater for subzero temperature and I believe you'll be good to go.  

Columbia's Park Run Jacket (status: purchased)

An "Interchange" system jacket that features a water and windproof shell paired with Columbia's down insulation layer.  Special technology found on this jacket is Columbia's patented Omni Heat, which "reflects" heat back to your body.  My best purchase so far. 

Tested in -10 degree winter in Sapporo and held up well.  

Pros: Water and windproof shell, very warm down lining. Omni Heat is a game changer.

Cons: Pricey and this particular interchange jacket is only available in Japan

Price range: not available in Manila but there are alternatives available in PHL like  Columbia's Whirlibird interchange jacket at Zalora or at the Columbia Store in Greenbelt 

Verdict: A premium jacket but there are other decent alternatives available in MNL

Uniqlo's hybrid down parka (status: purchased)

Used in Europe in late November (8-15 degrees) and also in Tokyo early in December (10 degrees). Not very stylish (a tad bit boxy eh?) but gets the job done

Pros: Water repellent shell. Has a zip-in down lining so can be used in early winter. Hooded

Cons: Won't win any style points vs a Zara wool coat. Down lining is very thin, you'll need more layers of insulation for deep winter.  Outer shell is water repellent but not waterproof. 

Price range: P4,999

Verdict: Consider it.

Notes: Affordable system jacket, but you'll need to augment with more layers if you're planning on using this in frigid temperature.  Hood is not lined so make sure your additional insulation layer has a hood. Water repellent shell offers modest wind and water protection but will not likely hold up well vs harsher climates.

Manileno's guide for peripherals: bonnets, socks and mittens

I've tried three brands for peripherals and I would suggest to either stick with Uniqlo if you're on a budget or go all in with Columbia.  

Uniqlo offers a good range of Heattech gear at decent prices but you may have to sacrifice some heat retention as most offer only modest insulation with little or no wool content.  Verdict, they won't offer much resistance in subzero temperatures so plan to use these for not so harsh climates.  For example, I used Uniqlo's HT gloves in subzero temperature in Vienna and Sapporo and the cold went right through. I had to buy a pair of gloves onsite.   

Meanwhile, higher-end brands like North Face and Columbia usually utilize wool and offer other technologies, like Columbia's Omniheat reflective material which for me is a game changer in terms of staying warm.  They may be a little pricey but if you're heading off the Arctic circle, you might want to invest in some of these pieces.   

On the low end of the spectrum would be stuff from Decathlon but almost all of the gear I've used from there offered poor heat retention and had terrible ventilation.  

Verdict: Best bang for buck will always be Uniqlo but if you go extreme temperatures, don't expect them to hold up very well. 

Parting shot: the DIY system jacket

System jackets like the North Faces and Columbia will be the perfect piece for any winter wonderland wardrobe given their versatility and performance but they are on the pricey side (roughly Php15,000 to Php18,000).  However one can always whip together a DIY"system jacket" based on pieces from Uniqlo. Here's are some examples for system jackets

Option 1: High end

Columbia's Bugaboo/Whirlibird interchange or NorthFace's Arrowood/Thermoball Triclimate (P13,000-18,000) = waterproof shell + moderate/excellent insulation layer.

Outer shell: Water and wind proof 

Insulation: 

Fleece: Columbia Bugaboo and TNF Arrowood (moderate) 

Down: Columbia Whirlibird and TNF Thermoball (excellent)

Verdict: Consider it although a bit pricey

Notes: Great wind protection and inner layers "volt-in" to the outer shell. Technologies like Thermoball from North Face and Omni-Heat by Columbia set them apart. Expensive though.

Option 2: The "Deluxe" Uniqlo DIY system jacket #1 

Uniqlo (Blocktech parka) + (ULD parka) + Optional-(wool sweater or zip fleece) 

Total cost: (P2,999 + P3,999) = P6,998

Outer shell: Water and wind proof

Insulation: 

1st layer: Moderate warmth. ULD parka offers decent but not great level of heat retention

The insulation for ULD won’t be too warm so you can add a 2nd layer if you’re facing colder temperatures 

Optional 2nd layer: For light winter- Uniqlo middle gauge mock but for harsher climates use Zip Fleece jacket

Total cost: (P2,999 + P3,999 + 1,990) = P8,998

Verdict: This DIY version is as warm as DIYs go.  Decent wind protection and modest insulation could be good enough for subzero temperature granted you have very good base layers and full set of peripherals (bonnet, mittens, socks). 

Notes: The Blocktech parka has limited to no lining so augment with a ULD parka (the one with hood).  For not so cold climates you can tack on a merino wool cardigan/Middle gauge mock sweater during light winter but for sub zeros you'll likely need the zip fleece as 3rd layer. This will get a little bulky so you might want to oversized the outer Blocktech Parka layer.

Option 3: The "Lite" Uniqlo DIY system jacket #2:

Uniqlo (Hybrid down jacket) + (Zip fleece)

Total cost: (P4,999 + P1,299) = P6,298

Outer shell: Water and wind repellent

Insulation: 

1st layer: Marginal warmth. Very thin layer of down, equivalent to ULD compact jacket

2nd layer: Modest warmth. Fleece jacket should help augment insulation 

Verdict: This setup is an affordable system jacket (you can "volt-in" the down lining into the outer shell) but you will definitely not get close to the performance of the North Faces and Columbias of the world.  Use this DIY system jacket in autumn or at most early winter as this will not likely hold up well in very harsh or subzero conditions.

Notes: The down lining is rather thin so the 2nd layer is a must. Add on Uniqlo Zip fleece hoodie to increase insulation.  The outer shell is water repellent and NOT water proof. This is the “Lite” DIY version so if you do want to use this in deep winter or subzero temperatures, do compensate with very warm base layers, maybe an extra merino wool cardigan and the best available peripherals of bonnets and mittens.

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So hope that you were able to get some good tips for shopping and building your winter wonderland wardrobe and good luck on your snowy adventure, hopefully in the not so distant future! 

Manileno's guide to winter wear in Sapporo (and other cold places) part 1

We've officially entered the "ber months" in an otherwise bizarre and sad year.  Hitting September has most of us nostalgic over travels of not so long ago so just wanted to hit up this entry on my guide to winter wear, Manileno style. 

Full disclaimer: I've not not been to every conceivable location in the world but i have done some travel in autumn, late autumn, winter and spring so here are some tips I've pieced together for those of you looking to build wardrobe for the cold weather in your next trip.. whenever that will be.

Part 1 of a two part series, we'll start with some basics then get down to more specific pieces I've used, tried out or maybe just seen in stores for our options.

How to keep warm?

This is one question I've asked myself numerous times given how "ginawin" I am.  Staying warm in non-tropical weather revolves around two things:

1) Heat retention

2) Heat protection

Whenever we think about what we need to get as "cold gear" we need to think, how will this piece of clothing help me generate heat and how will this piece of clothing help protect/retain the heat my body is generating?

Heat generation

Heat retention can be achieved by wearing clothes made of materials that insulate your heat or in some cases, even amplify the amount of heat you are generating.  This is usually attained by clothing made up of wool, fleece or goose feathers (down). 

Heat protection/retention

Oftentimes I would equate this with "wind protection" as cold air blaring in your face will strip away any heat off your body no matter how much "heat retention" your outfit offers.  This is generally achieved through wearing clothes (usually the outermost layer of clothing) that aren't permeable.  Most waterproof or water resistant jackets generally offer some form of wind protection but not all waterproof materials are created equal.

Cold air gusts are the reason why we have "wind chill factor" which is something you also need to account for on top of the forecast temperature for the day.

Now that we know the two ways to stay warm here are some tips that (I'm sure you all know) may be helpful in your cold weather gear build up.

1) Tip #1: layering is key

2) Tip #2: watch the extremities

3) Tip #3: moisture control is just as important

Tip#1: Layering is key

Oftentimes we can gauge how cold a place will be based on the number of "layers" you need to wear.  Of course, cold is relative so 5 layers for me may be your "4 layers" weather or my 5 layers is colder than your 6 layers and so forth. Two things i wanted to share about layering

a) A better structured layering concept is better than having less "thick" layers.  Whenever we're traveling we need to be ready to face blistering cold temperatures but we also need to be aware that we won't be in the coldest of the cold ALL THE TIME.  There will be times we enter a store for a meal with cold but not freezing temperatures. Having a good structure of layers allows you to "peel off layers" to achieve the right amount of warmth for the places you will visit. Harder to do if you only have 3 really thick layers as once you take off one layer you're not left much to protect yourself.  Just my suggestion but i guess you can get away with it that is your style.

b) Order matters.  Taking into account our two ways to achieve warmth (heat insulation + wind protection) setting up a proper sequence for layering a system is key with more insulation needed the closer to your body (inner layers) and the less when you move out.  Meanwhile, as you move on to outer layers, you must also ensure increased levels of wind protection especially for your outer shell layer.  Lastly, also remember tip#3 which is coming up, with inner layers needing more moisture control (ventilation) to limit sweating. 

Tip#2: Protect the extremities

This is something I learned from my dad.  Heat generally escapes from your extremities; i.e. your hands your feet and your head.  So make sure you apply the concepts of heat retention and wind protection to all the tips of your body.  This makes head gear, mittens and a good pair of shoes important with each piece of your winter wonderland outfit incorporating just enough heat retention and wind protection as well.  

Tip#3: Moisture control is just as important

On top of having clothes that help retain heat, you also need to make sure that you control the moisture that can and will build up underneath all those layers, usually done by wearing materials that offer good ventilation.  

Yes you can achieve a warm winter system jacket but if you're sweating underneath and your back is wet, you're just as likely to catch a cold.  Thus on top of looking for clothing that helps retain heat, also consider if the material you've chosen has the ability to "wick away" moisture without slippage in heat retention.  Same concept applies to all pieces of your gear so keeping your feet dry and your hands dry are important as well. 

So now that we've gotten through the basics, let's get you started in building your winter wonderland wardrobe. Follow these steps as loosely as you want, always making adjustments given that your cold is different from my cold. 

Step 1: The base layer

This is what we generally refer to as "thermal underwear", which are usually long (my dad still refers to them as long johns) and cover as much as your body as possible.  They are also usually "body fit" so expect and look for them to fit close to the skin as this helps retain body heat.  Several options are available to you and I'll mention those that I've tried out.   The few that I've tried range from relatively pricey (Body Armour) to less expensive but not too comfortable (Marks and Spencer) all the way to the ones sold by Decathlon, which I would not suggest given they had almost zero moisture control.  

By far the best choice for me would be the ones sold by Uniqlo given their relative affordable price tag, decent warmth and flexibility with three levels of warmth to choose from. The spectrum moves from Warm, Extra Warm to finally Ultra Warm, progressively getting thicker.  

What I like about them is that they provide a decent balance between heat retention and moisture control, all in a nice affordable price tag. Wondering which one to get? Here's my approximation for the temperature each level of warmth can handle, all in Celsius

Warm: between 10-20 degrees 

Extra warm: between 5-15 degrees

Ultra warm: anything colder than 10 degrees 

I generally bring two types in each trip to increase flexibility. So if its rather warm, i would tend to bring a couple of sets of the Warm with one or two "just in case" sets of Extra Warm. If your destination would be on the cold side all throughout (Sapporo or Finland) then i guess you bring the Ultra warm version exclusively.

A big part of the base layer is your footwear! So don't forget to pick up a good pair of warm socks that should help check off the "extremities matter" box.  In the Philippines I do know that Uniqlo carries a range of Heattech socks at relatively affordable prices.  The one drawback is that non of them (at least the ones I've seen so far) have wool content, which means that they may be warm compared to cotton socks but they're not likely to keep your toes toasty in sub zero temperature.  

If you're not heading off to some heavy snow capped areas then the Uniqlo Heattech socks should hold up just fine (granted of course you have a good set of waterproof shoes/boots.

Step 2: layers of insulation

You can get creative here with one or two layers of cardigans, sweaters zip ups and hoodies to provide you with a zone that helps your body retain as much body heat as possible.  As discussed above, there are several options for these in-between layers with materials of wool, fleece and down the usual weapons of choice.  Insulation can be a stand alone layer or one that is built into your outer layer. I generally have at least two layers of insulation:

 

1) a wool cardigan (for warmer temperatures) or a zip up fleece shirt for heavy action as my 1st layer 

2) a built-in insulation layer of Down in my outer layer acting as my 2nd line of insulation

These two layers should help your body retain enough heat and should you venture into colder temperatures you can either add a layer or swap out one of the layers with something thicker.  

I would tend to say based on my experience that Down provides the most warmth, followed by Fleece then lastly Wool (I could be wrong of course). 

Step 3: the Outer shell       

This is the last piece to the puzzle and choosing an outer shell is crucial to keeping your warm in colder climates.  Wind protection is just as important as heat retention and i learned this the hard way when i visited Vienna in the winter. I had a heavy wool coat with several layers of insulation but almost zero wind protection.  The polar vortex came through the platz and bye bye warmth. 

Thus, always make it a point to bring at least one backup outer shell that provides wind protection to help ensure all that warmth you've worked hard to generate stays with you.  What's more, wind protection usually coincides with rain protection which would come in handy when it starts snowing. 

One good option would be to get a waterproof outer shell that can zip in a layer of insulation.  Many examples of these "system" jackets are available in the market with North Face's Triclimate edition and Columbia's Interchange system jackets two of the more prominent examples.  More price friendly versions are available at Uniqlo and i do remember seeing some at Decathlon.  

With this blogpost quite long, I'll stop right here and give you guys more concrete examples of pieces I've used or tried out to help you in your winterwonderland outfit buildup.  

Do check out part two of this blogpost in my next entry: 

Manileno's guide to winter wear for Sapporo (and other cold places) part 2

Unsolicited game plan for the Philippine Air Force

I’m no military expert. Just some ramblings on my fascination with military equipment and what I hope will happen for my country’s armed forces in such challenging times.

Part two of my unsolicited game plans for the Philippine Armed Forces: the Philippine Air Force!

1) The Multi-role Fighter program (MRF), why the rush?
There are reports indicating that the Philippine Air Force is set to procure honest to goodness multi-role fighters.  Shortly after US forces pulled out of Clark airbase, the Philippines exited the supersonic Jet age, settling for turbo fan trainers as fighters after retiring the last of the US holdover F5 Freedom Fighters.  Recently the Philippines returned to supersonic capability with brand new, non-hand me down Korean FA-50s but it appears the Air Force has its sights on bigger things.

The competition is down to 2 candidates: the US export version of the F-16 Falcon (Viper) and the Swedish Saab Gripen. Although graduating to finally having a true blue multi-role fighter after decades would be an achievement in itself and a bold step forward to upgrading our defense capabilities, I’m personally shying away from the decision to push through with such a project.. for now. Why?

Well first off, we’re in the midst of a pandemic and the government is acting pretty much like its broke (it is in some sense of the word) as authorities grapple with the more important task at hand of righting the economic ship. Chucking a truck load of money to buy 12 advanced fighters may not be a priority as of the moment.

If there is a need to beef up the country’s air defense perhaps it would be wiser to divert funding for the MRF to additional squadrons of the very capable light fighter slash advanced trainer the FA-50.  With $1.2 billion earmarked for the MRF acquisition, that’s easily 3 additional squadrons of FA-50.. plus change!

Having additional units of the Golden Eagle would definitely improve our Air Force capability while also making upkeep and maintenance more cost effective with regard to munitions and spare parts. 

Are there specific missions that the Air Force requires which are unable to be carried out by the FA-50? I’m guessing not really.

Sure it’s no way a true MRF and currently lacks AESA Radar and BVR capability but Korea is currently in the works to upgrade the Golden Eagles to address that issue.  Furthermore, given our basic needs of forward air control and basic air defense, the FA-50 appears more than capable to do the job.  

It’s like deciding between a Toyota Land Cruiser or a Toyota Fortuner. One is a full sized 4x4 SUV while the other is a medium sized SUV based on a pickup truck. The LC outclasses the Fortuner any way you look at it, except of course tag price. With PHP5.5 million pesos you can purchase 3 Fortuners or 1 Land Cruiser, and if you’re looking to build a fleet of cars, I’d rather go with more Fortuners. 

The Fortuner is clearly the inferior vehicle relative to the LC400 but heck it’s not terrible. Off-road capability is limited but then again how often do you really take a drive out into some really muddy and unforgiving terrain? Likely never. Other than that, the Fortuner offers decent safety features, a more than capable 2.4 in-line 4 cylinder Diesel engine and nice enough passable faux leather cabin make it a decent and respectable choice.  Same can be said of the FA50 vs the F-16 Viper or Saab Gripen.  

Thus perhaps shifting money away from the more expensive MRFs to additional squadrons of light fighters and other much needed hardware will be the better option given our lack of aircraft. Don’t get me wrong, we can procure the MRFs at a later date and after we have a credible and balanced Air Force with several aces pilots who can pilot the future F16 Vipers, Saab Gripens or even the upcoming KFX Boramae of Korea set for production by 2025.  When that happens, the FA50s can slide back into their LIFT role and double as light combat aircraft, acting as a second line of interceptors behind the MRFs to be procured.  

2) Make the EMB 314 Super Tucson purchase an even dozen
PAF is set to take delivery of the Super Tucano this year, barring of course a delay in production as Brazil battles the pandemic (God bless Brazil). We however only purchased 6 Super Tucanos with the venerable OV-10 still making the rounds. Perhaps it’s time to retire the Bronco for good and bring in an additional 6 units of the ST in the near term.  Used for close in air support and border patrols, at Php830 million per plane the Super Tucano may be a bargain given its capability to carry a wide array of weapons including air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles on top of bombs.  Having a full squadron of Super Tucano's will free up the existing (and future) FA50s from surface attack duties to concentrate on air defense.

3) A more "complete" PAF

Other avenues the Philippine Air Force can explore are the procurement of a long range maritime patrol aircraft  as well as an AWACS plane to augment the current deficiencies of its stand-in fighter: the FA50.  Meanwhile, the PAF can also follow through on plans to outfit aircraft with ECM packages to help offset radar deficiencies of its current fleet of light fighters. Lastly, the PAF can also procure an air tanker to extend the range of its current fleet of aircraft like the FA50.

Possible options for a maritime patrol aircraft would be the C212-400 or the CN 235 Persuader to help extend the reach of patrols in the West Philippine sea. The CN235 Persuader is currently used by the Indonesian Air Force with each plane having 6 hard points to carry Exocet missiles and torpedoes.  The PAF could select the C212 (pictured here) used by several armed forces around the world (Mother Spain is one of them) for maritime patrol, although the C235 version may be better give its longer range, ability to carry more arms and anti-submarine weapons with the smaller C212 likely only able to carry a modest payload.   The C235 Persuader would likely cost anywhere from $24-35 million.  

Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force can also invest in an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) to help augment the limited radar capability of the FA50s. The PAF can consider the C295 AEW&C version or the Saab AEW&C 340 (priced at $238 million in 2015) with the Erieye Radar employed by the Thai Royal Air Force.  The C295 AEW&C route would also make sense given that PAF currently has the C295 medium transport in use so having another unit tasked and specializing as an AWACS plane would be an ideal choice.   

PAF’s Flight Plan 2028 also set aside money for up to 4 ECM aircraft and an aerial tanker. The FA50 can carry ECM pods like Rafael’s Sky Shield to act as a bolt-on ECM plane while alternately, KAI is also developing a dedicated ECM model based on the Golden Eagle called the EA50. Given familiarity with the FA50 and improving relationship with Korea, purchasing at least 2 FA50s as dedicated ECM aircraft would be a probable pick. 

Finally, the PAF also eyed an aerial tanker in its Flight Plan 2028 and one option would be to outfit a C295 with a refueling kit to act as aerial tanker which means that the planned tanker can double as a medium transport when not conducting refueling missions.  The C130s have a similar add-on refueling kit but given the limited number of heavy transports at the PAF's disposal, it would be better to free up the big boys from tanker duty and leave it to the C295s. The PAF has 4 C295s in its fold and the PAF can opt to procure an additional unit (the K295) or simply purchase the refueling kit to save on cost. 

The cherry on the top: MRFs

All of these "force multipliers" will help augment the existing fleet and capabilities of the PAF, while also keeping the budget from swelling. Once the PAF attains a more "complete" and balanced lineup, with additional light combat aircraft (FA50 and Super Tucanos), an AWACS plane, ECM aircraft and an aerial tanker, then PAF can focus on the "cherry on the top" with an acquisition of a squadron of multi-role fighters.  

This table should show us how we can procure a full complement of aircraft with the $1.2 billion earmarked for the MRF program.  Spreading out this budget across additional FA50s, 6 additional Super Tucanos, 2 dedicated ECM aircraft, 2 long-range patrol aircraft, an aerial tanker and an AWACS plane. 

   

Beefing up our capabilities but still coming to terms with the fact that we’re a developing nation with limited resources should be the philosophy. Besides, I doubt we all expect our Air Force  to go into a full blown war with anyone right? However at the same time I do admit we need to retain (or regain) respectability and have the ability to hit back at any potential adversary if push comes to shove.  As one Senator put it, we just want to make sure that people know that we can hit back and bloody their noses if they come in to our territory.