Plans are afoot to convert some of the refurbished 114
M-113A2 armored personnel carriers (APCs), acquired through the US Excess
Defense Articles Program, into remote-controlled weapon systems (RCWS)
platform.
"We already have APCs converted into remote-controlled
weapon systems (platforms). We can upgrade some of these APCs into such and
further boost our capabilities," Mechanized Infantry Division (MID)
commander Major Gen. Edgar Gonzales said in a press briefing Saturday.
Gonzales was referring to the 28 Israeli-supplied APCs, of
which 14 will be 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 25 mm unmanned turrets,
12.7 mm (.50 caliber machineguns) RCWS and fire control systems (FCS) for 90 mm
turrets.
The first six RCWS units, armed with .50 caliber
machineguns, were delivered last year.
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 for 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 Php 67.5 million and
refitting of .50 caliber machine guns to the APCs.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=854577
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