Aside from acquiring new ships, weapon systems and improving its bases and other support facilities, the Philippine Navy (PN) is also busy updating its operational doctrines.
Commodore Jose Renan C. Suarez, PN Patrol Force commander, said that this is very important as this will determine how the Navy will go about in using and deploying its assets in defending the country.
He said that the updates are about 60 to 70 percent completed.
Suarez stressed that this is being done through the invitation of subject matter experts and communications with other navies.
Suarez earlier said that the two brand-new frigates which the Department of National Defense is acquiring for P18-billion is definitely more superior and heavily armed than the two Hamilton-class cutters in PN service.
He added that ships are equipped with radar, sonar, and electronic warfare systems and can engage airborne, surface and underwater threats simultaneously.
Aside from these surveillance and detection equipment, the frigates are also armed with anti-ship and anti-air missiles and a main gun capable of firing 120 rounds per minute aside from a torpedo system.
As of the moment, the Hamilton-class cutters in Philippine service are only armed with a 76mm main gun which can fire 60 to 80 rounds per minute.
Suarez said that these ships are part of the PN's "Navy Frigate Program" which has a timeline of 2013 to 2017.
He added that these ships are designed with numerous upgrades cycle to ensure that they will remain relevant and competitive against new vessels coming in line.
Suarez said that these ships will greatly enhanced PN's capabilities to defend the country's vast maritime territories.
He added that these ships will also greatly aid the two Hamilton-class cutters in service, BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), in their patrol and monitoring work once in commission at the PN.
Plans are afoot to upgrade the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz to make them more capable in their maritime domain awareness mission.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=574895
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