Navy ships to get cannons, sensors

MANILA, Philippines - The two most modern warships of the Navy will be upgraded with sensors and cannons as part of the effort to strengthen the country’s territorial defense capabilities.

 

Navy spokesperson Lcdr. Marineth Domingo said the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz would be equipped with 25 mm Bushmaster auto cannons that would complement their 76 mm Oto Melara main guns.

 

“It will allow the vessel to handle targets coming fast and those that are too close for the ship's 76 mm to engage,” Domingo said.

 

Domingo said the two ships would also be provided with sensors but details of the acquisition are still being threshed out.

 

The specifics of the projects would depend on the availability of the budget.

 

“Our aim is to make them stronger to protect themselves and to protect our country,” Domingo said.

 

The Philippines acquired the BRP del Pilar and BRP Alcaraz from the US Coast Guard to improve Manila's territorial defense capabilities.

 

BRP del Pilar was commissioned in 2011 while BRP Alcaraz became part of the Philippine Navy’s inventory in 2013.

 

The government spent about P450 million to acquire BRP del Pilar and more than P600 million to acquire BRP Alcaraz. The two decades-old ships were acquired under the US Foreign Military Sales program.

 

The government has allotted P15.5-billion to acquire two more warships. The bidding process for the two brand-new vessels is underway.