AFP chief eyes more mobile, powerful brigade combat teams

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2023): AFP chief eyes more mobile, powerful brigade combat teams (By Priam Nepomuceno)

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (PNA photo by Priam F. Nepomuceno)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) plans to create more brigade combat teams (BCTs) as it shifts its focus to territorial defense.

In a recent interview with reporters, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said these BCTs are "highly mobile" units and "combined arms" in composition which means that it would have its own artillery, armor, transport and other attached units to make it more effective in the field.

It will also be bigger than a brigade which traditionally consists of around 1,500 to 2,500 personnel.

"Combined arms yan, so highly mobile, so isa sa Luzon, isa sa Visayas, isa sa Mindanao (It will be combined arms, and it will be highly mobile. One will be deployed in Luzon, one in the Visayas, and one in Mindanao)," Brawner said.

He added these BCTs are envisioned as the "quick response" units of territorial forces based in these islands. Two more BCTs are being eyed to be formed next year to augment the 1st BCT that formed some five years ago and is now operating in Mindanao.

The 1st BCT is an infantry-heavy unit but is augmented by armor, artillery and other assets, making it more effective than regular Army units.

Brawner also said that one of the proposed BCTs will be armor heavy and this will be deployed in Luzon, while those in the Visayas will be made highly mobile as its area of operations consists of many islands.

"Yung pupunta sa Visayas dapat highly mobile siya na pwede syang mag-cross sa mga islands (the BCT that will be deployed in the Visayas will highly mobilize to allow its units to cross islands)," the AFP chief said.

Also, these BCTs will also be equipped with anti-armor and anti-craft missiles like the FGM-148 "Javelin" and FIM-92 "Stinger" to allow these units to operate in the modern battlefield.

Brawner said these proposed weapons are borne out of lessons of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211476