The Philippine Army Modernization and Transformation Roadmap 2028

Among the military branches that have the greatest effect with regards to their contributions to the Revised AFP Modernization Program, the personnel forming the Philippine Army may be considered the least known that its different strategic, organizational, and procurement programs are being reported bit-by-bit rather than being part of the organization as one. In this matter, this topic deserves its own discussion.

STRATEGIC OVERVIEW
Based on the PDF file about ATR2028

Philippine Army Soldiers in their new uniform. Source

Through the years, the Philippine Army is improving its capability, wherein its soldiers have effectively deployed in the field, enhancing their skills further in combat against insurgent groups like the Communist Sympathizers and the Islamic ones far south, these troops also receive various upgrades wherein due time, enhancing both skills and asset of a specific combatant within the Army in line to its aim to have World-Class armed forces in 2028.

But it was so different in the years before these changes, wherein the organization undertook good governance transformation and improving its organizational structure, a far cry from the past that has plagued with various challenges and controversies, ranging from incompetence to graft, in which if left unsolved, will affect the organization as a whole negatively that it even affects the nation's way of defending itself, not to mention various issues that are disadvantageous to the Army like military adventurism and the revolving door policy which makes a present term for a chief of staff (which is from the Army) short where it affects the leadership in which it also affects the direction of the organization in general. 

These sets of problems have provided a sufficient reason for the Army to revamp the institutional norms and policies, leading to this very roadmap that aims to obtain and uphold a credible, dynamic, responsive, capable, and professional Army, wherein it can be seen as an organization that is committed to deliver and perform its mandate of serving and securing the country and its citizens as what the constitution prescribes it. See more: Article XVI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The Philippine Army, through this transformation roadmap initiative, has seen various progress varying from its performance to its military procurements which is deemed a big difference from what it was administrations before. Speaking of which, this transformation is still in the process where areas from performance, military assets, and organization will be deeply discussed in this article.

PERFORMANCE

A Soldier in Bohol. Via Inquirer.net

Like the rest of the organization within the scope of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the performance among military personnel improves as new assets arrive wherein strategically speaking, it provides a significant improvement as to how they respond wherein various skirmishes and various achievements that we will about to provide may give an insight as for the strategical actions the Army do have at present.

One example is the very recent news about the Abu Sayyaf group who set foot on Bohol as a staging point for kidnapping people, in which it was failed due to the quicker response of the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines against these insurgents with the Philippine Army playing a significant role in the operations, wherein within days, the coordination of all military branches, along with the police and together with the help of the locals, made it difficult for the insurgents to push deeper especially with the death of the one who initiated the attack. 

Another example showing the Army's significant role is with the attacks that took place in Butig, Lanao del Sur, wherein the offensives made it successful to reclaim the town once again from the ISIS sympathizers known as the Maute group as both the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Army jointly initiated the offensive where the ISIS plans of establishing in the Philippines got foiled where that in which, the threat remains to be in existence until at present that the people need to be aware so to speak wherein that sense, Maritime Domain Awareness in territorial waters needs to be enhanced following the events about the situations happened in Bohol. 

Performance-wise, the Philippine Army in these recent military operations exhibits exemplary actions where it was immediately carried out and primary objectives have been achieved. Speaking of which, there is more to be done wherein the Transformation Roadmap still has a lot of strategic, organizational, and procurement plans in which it aims to achieve its goals all the way to 2028.

WEAPONS PROCUREMENT

M-113 vehicles the Army's mechanized division obtains.
From PDA archives.

The Philippine Army just like the Air Force and the Navy also have military procurement plans in which it calls to procure different military assets in which it may be seen as essential to the mandate of the Army, as well as to further enhance its strategic capabilities as an organization wherein soldiers in the field may or will have better weapons in which it may give a better edge against the enemy. 

Apparently, the weapons procurement plans in the Army may change from time to time or with little more occurrence than its counterparts within the armed forces in which it may be found difficult for us to disclose all of the weapons as per planning. Here are just some of the projects where it was publicized by the Army and discussed across defense fields.

M-4 rifles

The M-4 rifles were bought by the Philippines. There are around 56,843 units
procured. From Manila Bulletin

This procurement calls to replace older M-16s that the Army obtains with the hopes of modernizing the soldier's primary equipment to enhance its overall performance on the battlefield. 

Apparently, the similarities between these two at around 80% wherein interoperability is deemed possible that spare parts can be interchangeable where logistically speaking, it is deemed efficient. 

The only thing here is that M-4 rifles are produced by Colt wherein the barrel was shortened down to the purpose of having an improved weapons performance in close-quarter combat in which albeit there are shorter-barreled M-16s, they are said to be noisy, as well as being inaccurate where it gives the necessity to develop a new weapon like the M-4. 

In this manner, the said weapons at the first batch back then were inaccurate due to ineffective rear sights where it was then fixed by Remington in the sense that the whole program resumed without a hitch. Hence, the M-4 deliveries back then are completed.

The said weapon upgrades are considered as part of the Philippine Army objective called capability upgrade program or CUP in which it may be said part of the greater transformation roadmap where weapons procurements as well military capabilities upgrades do aim to have a soldier better-equipped in the field than ever before.

Camouflage Pattern for Battle Dress Uniform

Gen. Ricardo Visaya and his new Battle Dress Uniform made by
Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp. (Source)

As the Philippine Army materializes the procurement of military equipment for the troops, it is also a good thing if a new battle dress uniform (BDU) will be introduced. And with that, the Army procures these new sets of new BDUs from the Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp wherein it blends more to the Philippine Environment than the older, dark camouflage pattern.

The Company, Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp is renowned in the field of camouflage technology wherein its expertise was recognized by the United States government. Produced new designs monthly, this company is considered one of the best camouflage experts there is in existence, in which they produce camouflage designs for various countries like Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Mexico, and even the Philippines through the Philippine Army. 

Such improvements do change the image of the Philippine Army and its troops as what the Army Transformation Roadmap aims to have to the organization in which this said camouflage design made by a reputable camouflage expert there is may help the troops blend with the Philippine environment which makes it difficult from the adversaries to detect in which a soldier of the Republic may still have a better chance to live another day together with newer military equipment like the M-4 rifle.

Having the new camouflage, the Philippine Army is suited up where aside from battle dress uniforms, the armored personnel carriers like the M-113 are also being incorporated with such a design in a sense that it becomes the thing for the Philippine Army for these vehicles from the mechanized division to be blended to the environment as well as to be in uniform to the way the soldiers have used in which it will be a better thing to get advantage where it makes things much difficult to see if possible therein.

Pitz Defense Analysis Note (05-2019): This camouflage deal with Hyperstealth was replaced with the locally-developed PHILARPAT or the Philippine Army Pattern that can be seen similar to the ones developed by the company. Such a move disappoints Hyperstealth a lot which they post this article about the patents that may be violated from this process. Nevertheless, despite the company's concerns, the PHILARPAT became what is to be the standard uniform for the Army to use, which is an improvement from the previous uniforms they obtain.

Modified M-113s by Elbit

Modified by Elbit, these M-113 Infantry Fighting Vehicles are a plus
against insurgents that using a console, these soldiers can fire
directly at a target safely. From John Chua

Gunners will no longer have a doubt of being shot by an enemy gun while firing with the introduction of a product made by Israeli company Elbit to have the said firepower without any worries of being killed upon in which these weapons are named UT-25 and the Overhead Remote-Controlled Weapons Station or ORCWS.

Signed on June 22, 2014, this modified M-113s at a contract cost of PHP 882 million calls for six UT-25 gunned M-113s and four 25mm ORCWS wherein it really gives the Philippine Army under its Mechanized Division its armor capability that can be used in companion with the soldiers in the field. Apparently, the performance of these armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles for that matter can be shown in this video posted by VJ Norz on YouTube:

These modified M-113s which are equipped with remote-controlled guns makes it safer for a gunner to fire upon a target and hence, eliminating it wherein foot soldiers as complemented with military equipment like this will do their job as effectively and as safely as it is where casualties among the troops will be minimized as well as mounting casualties among others like the insurgents. With this, it is hopeful that in line with the Transformation Roadmap, more of these may be materialized upon the queue of the decision-makers within the ranks.

Land-based Missile System

This project was based on the original Shore-based missile system whereupon taking note as per the fate of this said project, it was back then realigned to Second Horizon in favor of helmets and vests.

The good thing is that, albeit the shelving is still within the priorities of the Army were in that manner, the said project and separated and become two, different projects. That is the renamed land-based missile system which is still a Philippine Army project under the roadmap, and the separate-Philippine Navy version of the Shore-based missile system where the setup is similar to the ones the Philippine Army have. 

All of these are slated by the next horizon which is implemented by next year. Apparently speaking, the possible contender in a project like this is the Israeli Military Industries or IMI and its LYNX MLRS or Multiple Launch Rocket System. Given the interest made in this program, albeit the circumstances that go against the situation like the so-called realignment, the hope is still deemed high that this program will be materialized in the sense that if once available, the Philippine Army will have a boost for its capabilities especially for guided/unguided artilleries like this.

This comparison made by IMI, albeit the bias, seems that
it can prove that the Lynx is a better product to the Phil. Army.

This project as summarised can be seen as one of the big-ticket projects the Philippine Army has where it may be the pinnacle of the Army's capability upgrade program as per the Transformation Roadmap. These in which may still be determined by the certainties and conditions that may be gone favorable as per the way the project materialized upon.

M-71 155mm Towed Howitzers from Israel

Howitzers from Israel are procured by the Philippine Army to improve
field firepower.

These Soltam M-71 Towed Howitzers are offered to the Philippine Army by Elbit which also supplies modified M-113s where it calls for an overall six to twelve units of Soltams in which three of these units will arrive in the following months with the first batch arriving before this month ends.

Apparently, the said procurement program undertakes three bidding procedures, wherein it started in the year 2013 wherein such circumstances upon the first two bid process got failed due to the so-called insufficient bidding documents which do not meet up to the bidding specifications and standards that it is looking. Considering that matter, the delivery of the systems is reported as early as last year as per another defense outlet gives a report about it. 

Even though there are no exact details as per the date when the contract was signed, we may be so glad as well that these artillery pieces will arrive in due time that in the months following by, they will be used not only by the Philippine Army but also by their counterparts in the Philippine Marine Corps where just like any artillery and the role of Philippine Air Force gunships, can be used as support mechanisms where area suppression is deemed needed before the ground troops to proceed and clearing up all the remnants of a certain adversary.

Speaking of which, these said howitzers from Israel may give a boost for the Army and the firepower it needs wherein pulverizing an area filled with insurgents or some adversary for that matter is a necessity to complement with other artillery pieces like the M-114 cannons the Philippine Army have where artillery barrages suppress up the enemy and its defenses.

Pitz Defense Analysis Note: This list as being stated here before is just highlighted to the long list of procurement programs the Philippine Army has where several of those are not disclosed to the public. Moreover, these said programs just like any other thing may be changing without any notice under the discretion of those within the ranks. Also, an update will be made from time to time if any new discussion about this topic arises shortly either in this very article or on our Facebook page.

ORGANIZATION

The Performance Governance System or PGS will be based on
scorecards that assess the areas where the Army sees its
strengths and weaknesses. From ATR2028 WordPress.

This is the main feature where the Army Transformation Roadmap, wherein the organizational format as shown emphasizes the details, in which two things always popped up to this matter that will improve the organization which is in terms of performance excellence and good governance.

In the given timeline of improving the AFP from the Modernization Program to the AFP Capability Upgrade Program (in which all of the weapons procurements mentioned fall under either this category), the Philippine Army through its Transformation Roadmap have its own very program which may help the Army fixed its organizational structure. That is, the Performance Governance System or PGS wherein it is an initiative upon the adaptation of Harvard's Balanced Scorecard Framework which will assess the organization from accounting to military capability through the use of its assets like the ones aforementioned in this article. In the scorecard given, the modernization of the Army where it coincides with its military capabilities is emphasized in Strategic Objective 9 or SO9 of its Performance Measures and Targets. The quotation is given as follows:

For SO9 – “Build and modernize mission-essential capabilities”, the measure is the “percentage of battalions which completed the Battalions of Excellence (BOE) Program.” The BOE Program seeks to build-up and modernization of mission-essential capabilities of Army battalions. Thus, chosen indicator will measure will enable the PA to assess the success of its modernization program. The PA aims to have 100% of its battalions to undergo the BOE Program.

Moreover, it doesn't alone cover the enhancement of capabilities. In such a manner, doctrines about it may also be as important as well given that in it, will do serve as a guide for each and every military personnel as well as decision-makers upon ranks to follow. And with this, the quotation for the doctrine is given as follows:

For SO8 – “Adopt and institutionalize best practices in management, operations, and support system”, the performance indicator is the “Doctrine Development throughput time” or the total amount of time spent in developing a doctrine (from conceptualization to promulgation of manuals). The efficiency in doctrine development will facilitate the adoption and institutionalization of best practices in management, operations, and support system. By 2028, the PA seeks to reduce the doctrine development throughput time to 365 days from 3,248 days in 2010.

In this short and long-term strategies given, it can be said that the Army is deemed promising on the needs given wherein being a major organization within the Armed Forces of the Philippines, an overhaul is deemed needed wherein being as part of an overall modernization it coincides, such institution will further develop as it aims to be.

SUMMARY

The Philippine Army infantry squad as emphasized in its 120th
anniversary. From www.army.mil.ph

In an aim of having a world-class Army, The Philippine Army is together with the Department of National Defense where revamping the very system itself is a necessity where the structure, the capabilities, performance, and governance are meant to get improved in the sense that this major branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will definitely do its mandate to defend the nation from both internal and external threats.

 

Even though being an archipelago which may be seen as a priority for both Navy and Air Force to be enhanced for territorial defense, it does not stop the Army to also improve itself where aside from battling insurgents around, it may also have a role as well in territorial defense in a way that it helps out doing such a mandate in its way which involves up-arming ground troops, artillery and mechanized divisions in a sense that fighting on the country's soil seen as the last line of defense. 

Speaking of which, Modernizing and buying weapons does not stop on one or two branches alone. Instead, as what the Government Budgeting Process sees best, each service branch of the armed forces has the privilege just like any other government agency to propose based on the needs where it's all up on the political will as to whether it may be funded or not. 

Overall, the Philippine Army is deemed optimistic in the sense that in performance and good governance as what the Transformation Roadmap emphasizes, it will be good not only for the organization but also for the country in general in which improved capabilities and proper management are a necessity for a successful defense of the sovereign Philippine Republic.

(c) 2017 PDA, revised 2021 edition. 

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