Upgraded APCs waiting for .50 caliber RCWS

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 2): Upgraded APCs waiting for .50 caliber RCWS

While the six upgraded armored personnel carriers (APCs) from Israel are all ship-shape, they are still to be fitted with .50 caliber-remote controlled weapons system (RCWS).

This was stressed by Mechanized Infantry spokesperson Major Filemon Tan in a text message to the PNA on Tuesday.He said the RCWS are still to clear the Bureau of Customs.

"The weapon systems have not arrived in Camp O'Donnell for fitting," Tan added.

The six APCs were transported to Tarlac last July 8. They arrived in the Philippines last June 18.

The Philippines signed an order for 28 M-113 APCs worth PhP882 million with Israeli defense manufacturer Elbit Systems Ltd. on June 22, 2014.

Fourteen of these vehicles are configured as fire support vehicles, four as infantry fighting vehicles, six as armored personnel carriers, another four as armored recovery units.

Upgrades include installation of 25mm unmanned turrets, 12.7mm (.50 caliber machine guns) RCWS and fire control systems (FCS) for 90mm turrets.

The Philippine Army operates around 343 AFVs (armored fighting vehicles) and APCs.

Around 85 percent of these AFVs are on green status (fully mission capable) while another 10 percent are on yellow status (undergoing repair) and five percent are on red (beyond repair).

About 150 of the AFVs are the United Kingdom-built GKN "Simba" with the remaining AFVs consisting of U.S.-designed V-150 and V-200 APCs, M-113s, Turkish made ACV-300s and British Scorpion CVRTs.

These vehicles give the PA its armor capability and are organized into a 14-vehicle mechanized infantry companion for deployment with regular units.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=799493