The Mechanized Infantry Division (MID) on Thursday will
formally receive and commission the 114 M-113A2 armored personnel carriers
(APCs) acquired through the US Excess Defense Articles (EDA).
This was disclosed by Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao in
an interview Wednesday.
The first 77 units were shipped on December 9, 2015 while
the remaining 37 units were delivered on December 14, 2015.
The 114 M-113A2 will be formally turned over to Army
commander Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano who will then hand it to MID head Major Gen.
Edgar Gonzales during short ceremonies in Camp O' Donnell, Capas, Tarlac
Thursday.
All weapons, radios and other equipment of these APCs are
installed, making them mission-capable.
"These equipment will be brought down the line to
complete the Table of Equipment (TOE) (of all MID battalions)and will enhance
our speed (of deployment) and our personnel protection," the Army
spokesperson said.
The MID has five mechanized battalion with the theoretical
TOE of 36 armored vehicles each.
The EDA Program grants excess US
The transfer is a result of a formal request made by the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to assist in their defense modernization
efforts.
The M-113A2 was developed to provide a survivable and
reliable light tracked vehicle that allows troops to be brought forward under
armor for dismounted operations.
Commissioning of these vehicles will greatly boost the
numbers of the 343 armored vehicle-strong MID.
The AFP virtually got these additional armored assets for
free saved for the shipping costs which amounted to PHP67.5 million and
refitting of .50 caliber machine guns to the APCs.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=853530
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