Philippine's Navy MPAC (photo : timawa)
MANILA, Philippines - The Navy is expecting delivery this
week of two brand new multi-purpose attack craft manufactured by a Filipino
company in line with efforts to upgrade its capability.
Navy spokesman Col. Omar Tonsay said the vessels have been
acquired from local firm Propmech Corp. and were expected to be delivered in
August.
“These are Filipino-made vessels. These make us proud,”
Tonsay told The STAR yesterday.
Commander Kenneth Tingabngab, director of the Navy’s
modernization office, said they have acquired three multi-purpose attack craft
from Propmech.
The first one was delivered during the first half of the
year and was blessed during the Navy’s 114th anniversary last May. The three
vessels cost about P269 million.
“The boats will be used for interdiction, patrolling and for
maritime and border security,” Tingabngab said.
Each boat is 16.5 meters long, 4.76 meters wide and can
carry as many as 16 soldiers or about two tons of cargo.
Tonsay said there are four multi-purpose attack craft in
their inventory.
He said sailors would test the boats once the vessels were
delivered.
The Aquino administration has vowed to support the
military’s modernization efforts to enable it to perform its mandate.
The Navy would be given strategic sealift vessels with
amphibious capability, offshore patrol vessels, three naval helicopters, coast
watch stations and weather-heavy endurance cutters.
The Navy also expects the arrival of a warship acquired from
the United States Coast Guard in January. The warship, a weather endurance
cutter, will be named after Ramon Alcaraz, a patrol boat commander during World
War II.
For the Army, the government plans to acquire new assault
rifles, armor assets, tanks, armored personnel carriers, force protection
equipment like helmets, and bulletproof vests, night-fighting equipment and
radios.
Meanwhile, the Air Force is expected to acquire surface
attack aircraft, air defense radars, long-range patrol aircraft and closed air
support aircraft.
(PhilStar)
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