• Naval Warfare

  Japan delivers first MRRV to Philippines

  19th August 2016

  The Japanese government has delivered the first 44m multi-role response vessel (MRRV), BRP Tubbataha, to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The Japan Marine United (JMU) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Between a rock and a hard place

  10th August 2016

  In the face of domestic insurgency and an increasingly belligerent China, updating or replacing military helicopter fleets in the Philippines has become a matter of …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippine Coast Guard heads west

  10th August 2016

  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is moving an additional vessel to the South China Sea where it will be able to perform routine patrols in …

• Military Logistics

  Malays support USMC Herc

  8th August 2016

  A Malaysian company has completed the overhaul of a first Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules aircraft on behalf of the USMC stationed in Japan. The aircraft …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines awaits new cutter and frigates

  26th July 2016

  Documents were signed at Coast Guard Base Alameda, California on 21 July to hand over a decommissioned Hamilton-class cutter to the Philippine Navy (PN).  Boutwell …

• Naval Warfare

  Where to now in South China Sea?

  19th July 2016

  Predictably, China reacted furiously to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) decision handed down on 12 July against its maritime claims in the South China …

• Naval Warfare

  Chinese maritime claims don’t hold water

  13th July 2016

  On 12 July the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines over China in a dispute over maritime claims in …

• Naval Warfare

  US donates boats to Philippine police

  13th July 2016

  The Philippine National Police - Maritime Group (PNP-MG) took receipt of four new aluminium-hull patrol boats on the western island of Palawan on 8 July.  …

• Military Logistics

  C295W enlists in Thai army

  1st July 2016

  Thailand has taken receipt of a single Airbus Defence & Space C295W medium transport aircraft. While Bangkok did not publicise this acquisition,  Airbus Defence & …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines welcomes first research ship

  14th June 2016

  The Philippines Navy (PN) welcomed its first ever oceanographic research vessel upon its arrival in Manila on 10 June. At its commissioning in San Diego …

• Defence Notes

  NZ White Paper looks south and north

  9th June 2016

  The New Zealand government has outlined a 15-year modernisation plan through the release of its Defence White Paper on 8 June. Originally due last year, …

• Military Logistics

  Philippines receives BRP Tarlac

  23rd May 2016

  The Philippine Navy (PN) has received BRP Tarlac (LD-601), the lead ship of its class of Philippine landing platform docks (LPDs), it announced in May …

• Defence Notes

  Will Duterte rock Philippine defence boat?

  17th May 2016

  The presidential electoral victory of Rodrigo Duterte on 9 May could have seismic implications for not only the Philippines, but also the whole region. Duterte, …

• Naval Warfare

  ADMM-Plus conducts largest exercise

  9th May 2016

  Participants in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) performed a counterterrorist assault aboard a ship in the South China Sea on 8 May as …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSA 2016: AgustaWestland and Weststar team for AW159

  21st April 2016

  Finmeccanica Helicopter Division is positioning its AW159 Wildcat helicopter for a Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) requirement for naval helicopters capable of anti-submarine warfare (ASW). It …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Hybrid effector systems

  Self-Propelled Anti_Air Gun [Philippines]

  Background In February 2026, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, General Antonio Nafarrete, stated that the country intends to procure ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy Lift Helicopter [Philippines]

  Programme Background Procurement from Russia In November 2021, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that a contract had been signed to acquire 16 Mi-171 heavy ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  FA-50 [Philippines]

  Programme Background  A procurement monitoring report released by the Philippines Department of National Defence revealed a $683 million dollar contract with Korea Aerospace Industries for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 3 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines retired its F-5 fighters in 2005 and purchased 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft from South Korea in 2013. However, new fighter ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Medium Range Air Defence [Philippines]

  Background In February 2026, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, General Antonio Nafarrete, stated that the country intends to procure a ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Horizon 2 - Multirole Fighter Programme [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The Philippines wants a fighter able to perform score missions such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground tasks and reconnaissance, including over water. It ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Light Tactical Vehicle (Initial Order) [Philippines]

  Programme Background The Philippine Army has a requirement for 200 Light Tactical Vehicles (LTVs) which is expected to be initiated within Horizon 2 of the ...

• Military UAS - small

  ScanEagle 2 (Philippines)

  Programme Background MSI ProgrammeThe Philippines are receiving the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme. This ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Horizon 3 - Submarines Procurement Programme [Philippines]

  Background Requirements The Philippines began its Future Submarine Acquisition back in 2015. The Philippines has no experience in operating submarines, but there is a growing ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  T129B - Forecast [Philippines]

  Programme Background The Philippines has been waiting some time for T129s from Turkish Aerospace. The type was selected in November 2018, but it was not ...

• Transport

  C-130J-30 [Philippines]

  Programme Background Requirement The PAF relies on an older fleet of C-130s obtained secondhand. In fact, the last time the Philippines purchased brand-new Hercules was ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Light Tactical Vehicle (Future Orders) [Philippines]

  Programme Background The Philippine Army has a requirement for 200 Light Tactical Vehicles (LTVs) which is expected to be initiated within Horizon 2 of the ...

• Military UAS - small

  Vietnam - ScanEagle 2

  Programme Background The Vietnamese Coast Guard are receiving the ScanEagle 2's thought to be provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) programme. This ...

• Maritime patrol

  Long Range Patrol Aircraft [The Philippines]

  Programme Background On 10 July 2023, Elbit Systems announced that it had secured a contract for two long-range patrol aircraft. Although the customer was not ...

• OPVs

  Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs) (1-5) [Philippines]

  Programme Background Timeline The Philippine Coast Guard plans to acquire five 97m Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs) from Japan following the order placed for two ships ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Patrol boats

  PCE 827

  The PCE 827-class patrol boats are ex-US built World War Two-era rescue ships first commissioned in the 1940s. The Philippines still operates a small number ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  FA v1

  In October 2025, Ukraine unveiled the FA v1, a developmental uncrewed fighter, at the Drone Warfare Summit in the Philippines. The design showcased is jet-powered ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Series 320

  The Series 320 is a family of S-band air defence radars designed by ITT Gilfillan (now L3Harris) in the late 1970s.  It was used by ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  D-Tiger

  Thai Defense Industry (TDI) unveiled its D-Tiger 4x4 armoured tactical vehicle at Defense & Security 2022 in Bangkok. The D-Tiger is aimed at export sales, with ...

• Towed guns

  Soltam M-71

  Elbit Systems M-71 towed howitzer is a long-range field gun incorporating advanced artillery systems. It was originally built by Soltam but the company was purchased ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  K745/Blue Shark

  The K745, also known as the Blue Shark, is a lightweight, anti-submarine torpedo developed by Korean company LIG Nex1. It was originally introduced in 2004. ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  SSM-700K Haeseong (C-Star)

  The SSM-700K Haeseong, also known as the C-Star, is a surface-launched, anti-ship cruise missile. It was designed as a replacement for the Hae Ryong anti-ship ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Amir 4x4

  Gaia's Amir family includes 4x4 and 6x6 models which can be configured for various missions, including personnel carrier, reconnaissance, ambulance and logistics. 

• Light tanks

  ASCOD MMBT

  GDELS unveiled the ASCOD Medium Main Battle Tank (MMBT), a 120mm-armed 42 tonne tank based on its tracked ASCOD IFV, at Eurosatory 2018.  The ASCOD MMBT ...

• Marine engines

  10V 2000 M72

  The 10V 2000 M72 is a diesel engine manufactured by MTU. It measures 2365mm in length, 1130mm in width and 1305mm in height. It has a ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval Shield

  The Naval Shield is Hanwha's naval combat management system solution which combines communication and sensor integration functions with fire control capability. According to the manufacturer, ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  ELM-2258 ALPHA

  The EL/M-2258 Advanced Lightweight Phased Array (ALPHA) is a three-dimensional, multi-function solid state naval radar manufactured by Elta Systems in Israel. It is designed for medium-sized ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Belin

  The Belin, or Bramor C4EYE, is a fixed-wing mini-drone manufactured and assembled in Sloveia by C-Astral. The drone can be catapulted or hand-launched and host the stabilised C-Astral ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pandur II

  The Pandur II is an APC originall designed by Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge, now a part of General Dynamics European Land Systems.  It currently has 6x6 and 8x8 ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Torch-X Mounted

  Elbit Systems Torch-X Mounted is a battle management solution that notably includes fire control capability and AI-powered decision support tools. According to news sources, the ...