The BRP Alcaraz will be equipped with two 25-mm MKE 201 HEI-T machineguns. NAVY PHOTO
What is the Philippines’ second warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz capable of in terms of firepower?
While it has no missile system, the former Hamilton-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has been equipped with two units of 25mm bushmaster gun system for defensive purposes.
The Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., which manufactures missile systems, has offered a proposal to the Department of National Defense (DND) to arm the ship with a missile system, a Navy source told InterAksyon.com.
BRP Alcaraz has not been equipped with missile system because “under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS), arming the ship with sophisticated weapons such as missiles needs the approval of (the US) Congress.”
Also, such weapons are very expensive and were not included in the acquisition plan of the BRP Alcaraz, the source said.
“Makikita niyo bukas kung naka-mount na ba itong dalawang machineguns na ito sa may bandang likuran ng barko o hindi pa (You will see tomorrow if these two machineguns have already been mounted toward the back of the ship or not). This type of gun system is for defensive purposes,” the source said.
He said the BRP Gregorio del Pilar will most likely be installed with a missile system first.
Like the BRP del Pilar, the first acquisition from the USCG, the BRP Alcaraz has a 76mm machine.
Decommissioned by the USCG several years ago, the two cutters were bought and refurbished by the Navy for more than P1 billion to boost its naval capability for territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) against aggressors such as China.
On Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III will lead the welcoming and commissioning of BRP Alcaraz at Subic, Zambales, where it is currently anchored after almost a month of sea voyage from the US.
The skipper of BRP Alcaraz is Capt. Renato Baldovino, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1991.
Some of his batch mates are currently skippers of Navy ships or battalion commanders in the Army and Marines.
Baldovino topped the Naval Officer Qualification Course and was formerly assigned at the PMA Training Cadets. He underwent commandership in patrol gunboats and patrol craft escort.
A licensed electronics and communications engineer, he is also a seasoned skipper of Navy ships, assigned from Luzon to Mindanao, including a stint in patrolling WPS particularly the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/67959/what-is-the-brp-alcaraz-our-second-warship-capable-of
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