PHL armored battalions fill-out rate to hit 90%

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 5): PHL armored battalions fill-out rate to hit 90%

With the commissioning of the refurbished 114 M-113A2 armored personnel carriers (APCs) Thursday, Filipino mechanized infantry battalions armored vehicle complement will hit the 90 percent fill-out rate.

"We will incorporate these armor assets into our existing mechanized infantry battalions. We expect that our fill-out rate on armor vehicles will reach at least 90 percent," Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said.

The country's Mechanized Infantry Division has five existing armored battalions which theoretically should have between 36 to 40 APCs in strength.

But due to repairs, maintenance and attrition, some of these battalions are known to operate 26 to 28 APCs only.

These refurbished APCs were acquired through the United States Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program.

The EDA program grants excess US military equipment, without cost, to qualified allied countries.

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 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=854108