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.