BRP Ramon Alcaraz can be used as radar picket

From the Philippine News Agency (May 31): BRP Ramon Alcaraz can be used as radar picket

Once the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), the country's second Hamilton-class cutter arrives in August, the ship can be used as a radar picket by the Philippine Navy (PN) in its efforts to protect our extensive maritime domains.

Radar pickets are ships equipped with powerful radar and deployed in the high seas to detect ships or aircraft attempting to violate the country's territories.

"As a platform, radar equipment like that of the littoral observation stations (coast watch stations) can be mounted for wider range data gathering. All of these will be linked in a shore facility for better command and control for effective decision making," PN spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said on Friday.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz is expected to leave the US for the Philippines by the first week of June and will be here in August.

Aside from this capability, the impending arrival of the country's second Hamilton-class cutter will boost the PN's maritime domain awareness capability, Fabic said.

At present, the Filipino warship is believed to be carrying a 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon, two 25 Bushmaster guns and assorted machine guns.

It is also reported to be carrying a Harpoon anti-ship missile system.

"As an additional asset it will greatly improve our maritime domain/situational awareness (capability) because it is capable of long range deployment," the PN spokesperson added.

Also, since the ship is fitted with hangar facilities, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz can host a naval helicopter that can further extend its monitoring and detection capability.

"Also a helicopter can be launched from the vessel allowing wider and further coverage," Fabic stressed.

The ship is "fully mission capable" on her arrival.It has a complement of 167 officers and men.

Maritime observers said that this developments speak well of the Philippine Navy (PN) efforts to modernize itself and boost its power projection capabilities.

"With the arrival of our Hamilton-class cutters, which are being converted to frigates, the PN has started its first step in developing its blue-water capability or the ability to detect or engage intruders in the high seas," they added.

At present, the PN is rated only as coastal protection naval force and nothing else.(

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=529681