With the ability to carry three helicopters apiece, the two strategic sealift vessels being eyed for the Navy, can now be considered as mini-helicopter carriers.
This was after a Dept. of National Defense supplemental bid bulletin revealed that the two ships, each weighing 7,300 gross register tons, are capable of carrying two helicopters at it flight deck and another at its enclosed hangar area.
"(SSVs must have)helideck capacity for two 10-ton helicopters (based on Sikorsky Black Hawk) (while) enclosed hangar for another 10-ton helicopter (also based on Black Hawk)," it added.
With the capability to carry three helicopters, the SSVs has the capacity to conduct long range patrol and conduct rescue work aside from transporting emergency supplies during times of calamity.
The DND supplemental bid bulletin also said that the two ships must have a beam of 21 meters and a propulsion system consisting of two diesel engines coupled to two controllable pitch propellers giving it a minimum speed of 13 knots and a maximum of 16 knots.
It should also have a cruising range of 7,500 nautical miles and a crew of 100 to 130 officer and men.
The SSVs must be also capable of carrying two landing craft mechanized/utility at floodable well decks, two RHIB or LCVP on boat davits
It must also have room or space to carry 500 fully equipped soldiers.
The SSVs must be also equipped with navigation, surface and air search radars, electronic warfare suite, electro-optical fire control system and combat management systems
It must be armed with one main gun between 40mm to 127mm in caliber and two 30 mm automated cannons and between four to six light machine guns.
DND bidding and awards chair Undersecretary Efren Q. Fernandez earlier said the ships have an approved budget contract of P4-billion.
The money will be sourced from the AFP Modernization Act Trust Fund.
It will use to improve the transport and lift capabilities of the Philippine Navy.
The SSVs program is expected to be completed within two years time.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=560090
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