Philippines Considering Russian Helicopters and Other Military Equipment

15 November 2018

Philipine interested in Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters, in the picture above is Mi-17 of the Indonesia (photo : Penerbad)

Philippines interested in Russian helicopters and submarines

Moscow. INTERFAX.RU - The Philippines is considering the acquisition of several types of weapons from Russia, including attack helicopters and diesel submarines. This was stated in an interview with Interfax by the country's Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana at the defense exhibition in Indonesia.

"We are considering several types of weapons, including such as attack and transport helicopters, as well as small arms, an additional number of hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers (RPGs) and their ammunition," said the Minister of Defense of the Philippines.

Mi-17 of the Cambodia (photo : exoticplanes)

According to him, in the future, the Philippines may also acquire Russian diesel submarines. “Yes, we are considering various options; Russian diesel submarines of the Kilo class are one of them,” said Lorenzana.

The minister stressed that military technical cooperation (MTC) between the two countries is already developing. “We have already received a small RPG party from Russia. But this is only the beginning of cooperation between the military of the two countries,” he said.

Mi-17 of the Laos (photo : Mathias Trachsel)

On June 18, it became known that the agreement on military-technical cooperation between Russia and the Philippines entered into force. The agreement was signed on October 24 last year during the visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Manila. On the same day, a contract was signed for the supply of RPG-7V2 grenade launchers and Russian-made shots to the Philippines.

Earlier it was reported that the Philippines had already received from the Russian Federation a batch of military products, including small arms, ammunition for them, as well as army trucks.

Mi-17 of the Vietnam (photo : Huy Do)

In 2017, the official representative of the FSMTC of Russia, Maria Vorobiev, told Interfax that "the Philippine side is showing interest in a wide range of Russian military products for all types of Armed Forces, police and coast guard." “These are patrol ships, speed boats, submarines of Project 636 (Varshavyanka), helicopters, armored vehicles, small arms and melee weapons,” explained Vorobyeva.

Mi-17 of the Myanmar (photo : Andy Davey)

She reported that the Philippine side saw presentations of the products of the Kalashnikov concern, Mi-17V-5, Mi-17Sh, Mi-35 helicopters, speedboats, coast guard systems, and other types of military equipment.

Mi-17 of the Malaysia (photo : Goh Weiyang)

The head of the FSMTC of Russia, Dmitry Shugaev, said earlier that Russia is counting on the activation of military-technical cooperation with the Philippines. "This market is viewed as promising for domestic suppliers. The Philippine side is showing interest in various types of Russian armaments, primarily armored and rifle technology, helicopter technology and naval forces," said Shugaev.

 Mi-17 of the Thailand (photo : Thai Military)

Currently, Indo Defense 2018 is taking place in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. Rosoboronexport is the organizer of the Russian exposition at the forum. As previously reported in the company, the forum presents Russian weapons for all types of troops.

(Interfax)