How Really Important PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement is for the Philippine National Defense?

The Philippine-United States relations, through the years, are strong with the latter providing much for the country's national defense especially through the Cold War as well as to the present day with the spectrum of combat focusing more on eliminating terrorist threats.

And this relation came with recent strains in which one of those things that have caused this rift is centered on this particular agreement which involves the rotation of U.S troops within the country which is at risk as a result of a highly-political matter which will be less discussed on this article.

Pitz Defense Analysis note: This article is only with facts provided and supplanted with references highlighted in red which will be redirected to a specified link. It is better to read it in detail before making any violent reactions herein.

IN THE HEADLINES

Both the troops from the United States and the Philippines have
participated in exercises like those for KAMANDAG 3 as specified
in the image above. From DVIDSHUB.

The rift between the currently strong relationship between the United States and the Philippines recently went into the spotlight once more as reports provided the updated information regarding the revocation of the U.S. Visa on a certain Philippine Senator which have received the ire of the President and put the Visiting Forces Agreement between two nations at risk where it was first threatened to be scrap by the Administration, which in turn they intensify it up as they are working for it to end up, figuratively, in a trash heap.

This development came as the latest one coming from the administration in which they show discontent to the United States and its so-called intervention to other sovereign nations as what the naysayers were harping all along, which in itself is not surprising given that it is consistent by its nature from the things have been way back 2016, the year that the current administration rose to power.

Setting these highly-political details that may spark an argument on both sides of the equation aside, let it be known that the agreements that the Philippines currently have with the United States are essentials for both nation's national security and defense as both sides share their respective pieces of knowledge that mean a lot in interoperability and camaraderie between the both nation's Armed Forces.

And with this discussion came the necessity of providing the required learning especially that this topic which involves national defense matters between the country and its closest ally, in a sense that more knowledge is required to be provided to dismiss any misinterpretations or misunderstanding of the context dealing with these agreements forged by both sides.

So, let us take it deeper as it will be worthy to understand it up in detail regarding the agreement, its correlation to the US-Philippine relations as well as with the latter's national defense ranging from external defense down to counterterrorist operations that takes place in the country. 

Before proceeding, we kindly encourage you to read this article: "What It Means to be a Treaty Ally?" written May 13, 2018.

KNOWING THE PH-US VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT

A United States Coast Guard vessel and the BRP Andres Bonifacio
participated in 2019's Maritime Training Activity "Sama-Sama".
Obtained via DVIDSHUB.

To understand in detail regarding the United States-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement, let us provide information here bit-by-bit to provide ourselves the idea of what is this thing is all about especially on joint military exercises as well as on the relations of both countries as a whole.

Ratified by the Philippine Senate in 1999 at the turn of the century, the Visiting Forces Agreement aims to promote defense cooperation between two closest allies as well as providing the Armed Forces of the Philippines the boost it needs in terms of providing external defense.

This agreement in itself is interdependent to the previous undertakings between the Philippines and the United States such as the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty in which it was ratified back then to get into each other's help especially in case of an armed attack that took place between each other's territories as well as providing that portion of defense in the Pacific region.

It is with these agreements that the Philippines received its boost in terms of military capability and national defense wherein the United States provided things for the country to cope with the past and present spectrum of the combat environment especially with the present incursions that China has in the West Philippine Sea (which the United States show defiance through Freedom of Navigation Patrols) and counterterrorism operations that they provide the tools particularly the ones that involve surveillance.

Read more:  "The U.S. Drones In Zamboanga City and the Philippine UAV Programs", written March 31, 2019.

With the Armed Forces of the Philippines undertaking its recent Modernization Program with respective projects distributed across the three military branches that it encompasses, one may have the idea that having these agreements with the United States helps augment the military's current shortcomings in its capabilities which is slowly being materialized.

As far as military capabilities are concerned, the United States is helping the Philippine and it's military through JUSMAG which provides the training, logistics, and advices that the Armed Forces will take with regards to how will it improve its capabilities as well as be updated with the latest intelligence particularly the ones that pose a threat for the country's national security and defense.

So, the Philippines as far as things are concerned is benefiting from this kind of help from the United States especially through this deal that the Philippine Armed Forces receives the support it needs to be an improved organization that goes along with its mandate of defending the country which is also essential to the security of the Asia-Pacific region, in line with terms that both nations have under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

EXAMPLES OF ITS IMPORTANCE

The United States provided firearms for the Armed Forces of
the Philippines to have in improving its capabilities.
Image Source.

Many examples show the importance of the Visiting Forces Agreement that exists between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America, wherein one of those things involves providing new firearms to the Armed Forces of the Philippines such as the one provided in the image above.

Another example is with Marawi Siege as the United States Armed Forces provided their Philippine Counterparts advisory and technical support while the latter is doing all the fight on the ground with all of those inputs provided on their plans which attains their objectives in line with counter-terrorism operations of the agreement.

That support is further provided with many exercises that the Philippines have with the United States, especially with bilateral military activities like the annual Exercise Kamandag and Maritime Training Activity Sama-Sama, as it bolsters interoperability and camaraderie between the personnel of both of the country's Armed Forces.

Aside from military-related activities such as the aforementioned exercises and support for technical and advisory matters, the agreement actually allowed the United States to provide all of the support it needs especially with regards to the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) situations wherein the Armed Forces badly needs logistics chain to support the citizens affected by natural calamities such as those who survived the onslaught of the 2013 Supertyphoon Haiyan or locally known as Yolanda.

It was on those tormenting, difficult times that the United States immediately provided help to the Philippines where there are no countries who have managed to make such a rapid response, given that the agreement allowed them to send troops and supplies for the affected ones to have in need especially on basic necessities.

Ultimately, the agreement helps the Philippines in deterring the current situation in the West Philippine Sea where aside from the support they provided, the United States is also active in countering Chinese hegemony with the freedom of navigation patrols they conducted as being against China's desire to dominate the whole South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) is something that the Philippines indirectly benefited.

These proofs are just showing that the Visiting Forces Agreement is something that both sides benefit from as the primary aim is to provide that defense posture with the Philippines having the support from the closest ally while getting itself armed for the better through the Revised AFP Modernization Program (R.A. 10349).

CHINA'S GAIN AND THE AGREEMENT'S CORRELATION TO THE OTHER U.S. AGREEMENTS LIKE THE MUTUAL DEFENSE TREATY AND EDCA

Female Chinese troops marching in Tiananmen Square during
the 70th Founding Anniversary of the People's Republic.
(c) AFP

The revocation of the Visiting Forces Agreement benefits China more than what the Philippines and the United States see, given the proofs that signify its importance as both sides benefit from the agreement which is primarily centered on providing support, especially on external defense and counterterrorism matters.

This is what the ex-envoy of the Philippines to the United States warned in which it goes in line with the examples provided in the article where it will definitely affect the country's resolve in its counter-terrorism efforts as well as on the country's efforts to keep the West Philippine Sea in check, particularly the activities that China has over its outposts, its ships deployed there and proxies like the Maritime Militia.

Furthermore, the scrapping of the agreement as well as the status of the already-weak Armed Forces of the Philippines against a regional power like China, it will be not surprising for the Chinese to grab the opportunity in emboldening and getting firm on their claims over the whole West Philippine Sea, making things difficult for the country to stand on its own without any support from a stronger ally like the United States.

While the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA will not be included in the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement, the recent stain between the Philippines and the United States still endanger these other two agreements that forged ties between the two nations as these agreements are interdependent one after the other and it will not be that far that the United States may do the same in scrapping these said two other agreements as they were incurring operational expenses such as in the case under EDCA as they are deployed in various Philippine bases across the country.

Then, the proposals made on tapping Russia and China as opposed to the U.S. in doing defense stuff that the United States covered under the Visiting Forces Agreement is in itself an absurd thing especially with China which is the very nation that encroaches on the country's domain in the West Philippine Sea, reinforcing the idea of the agreement's revocation working on benefits for the Chinese to have.

These developments seem to be working against what one sees as a fundamental of protecting the country from a neighbor that aspires one's backyard and its rich resources while getting on fostering ties on such a neighbor, setting aside the things that are seen as the thing that in line with the country's supposed interests.

Nevertheless, only time will tell regarding the outcome of the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement and its implications in which it goes with the very defense posture that the Philippines desire has given that its existence provides that much a benefit as proven for the country's deterrence from external threats, counter-terror efforts and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN

The members of both Philippine and United States Air Force in photo-op
after 2019's Bilateral Air Contingent Exercises Philippines or BACE-P.
Image by SSgt Anthony Small, via DVIDSHUB.

The status and development over this portion of the Philippine-United States relations is something that is to be tested in time as both countries have the strongest ties between each other since the country's Independence in 1946 from the country that is seen today as an ally.

This pursuance for the revocation of the Visiting Forces Agreement is seen as the worse one since 2016 when President Duterte rose to power and the idea behind this proposal arose on the reasons that the United States apparently put the funding on hold for the country's anti-poverty projects.

On this proposal, one has indicated the impact of its revocation that may affect the commitment of the United States in deterring the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea as there will be no Philippine territory for the ships to dock in as this agreement is anchored to the country's national security as well as to its continuous obligations that are covered on other agreements such as the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Despite the current political headwinds, there still is hope that the country's military establishment is working on its best efforts to keep the agreement from falling apart or to save what they can from its revocation especially with the fact that the Armed Forces is benefiting more on subject matter exchanges and interoperability exercises with their counterparts.

In the end, it is worth to see what's in store for the country's defense posture for the years to come especially that the alliance between the Philippines and the United States is as just as important as the country's Modernization Efforts in which these setups are essential for the deterrence that the whole nation needs in countering both external threats like China and counterterrorism in which the agreements in a place like the Visiting Forces Agreement is something that shows its importance for the security and defense in the region.

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The Necessity of Having Military Cargo Platforms for Logistics and HADR Operations

When speaking of national defense, the first thing that comes into mind is the idea of having advanced weaponry within the inventory of a military force so as it will be useful for defending the country's national interest and territorial integrity from threats coming from inside and outside of the jurisdiction that defines a nation.

However, there is something more than firepower and capable military prowess that is as just as important, given that this area of consideration is something that defines not only the overall outcome of a battle or a war but also the essentials of providing the needs which it involves humanitarian matters or disaster response.

OVERVIEW - A DEPLOYMENT FOR REPATRIATION

A non-combatant platform such as the BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602) is
just as essential as other firepower-capable warships that the
Philippine Navy obtains. Image from DVIDSHUB.

On the recent news about the deployment of a single Tarlac-class Landing Platform Dock and a Del Pilar-class Offshore Patrol Vessel to Iraq as part of repatriating Overseas Filipino Workers over the recent escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, one has simply an idea about the importance of having such naval vessels to get things done of putting Filipino citizens abroad from the harm's way.

This importance came along with a simple fact that the Philippine Navy still lacks the number of warships it needs, so much that the outgoing Flag Officer in Charge of the organization admitted it in an interview with reporters wherein it gives that hard fact that despite the pace of the Revised AFP Modernization Program made to the fleet in improving its capabilities, more is needed to get the capacity required not only in patrolling the country's waters but also in providing sealift support for other uniformed forces to have.

Aside from the Philippine Navy, there is also the Philippine Air Force where they have the plan for utilizing their cargo aircraft such as the C-130 and C-295s as part of the repatriation campaign to get as many Overseas Filipino Workers as possible from the potential conflict area given the similar context involving the tensions aforementioned which is a cause for concern in the Middle East.

So it similarly goes to what the Philippine Navy get in terms of providing logistical resources which sends that very important message of getting more things done especially with the Philippine Air Force has only five C-130s (with one recently burned in an airport), and three C-295s (with one being with the Presidential Airlift Wing, making it four), wherein it also shows the limitations that the military branch has in having this capability.

Given these logistical-related matters that correlate national defense, let it be ideal to deal with this kind of discussion in which the aspect that the subject matter covers is something that deals with the mobility that the Armed Forces obtains and providing the way to enhance it for the betterment of the whole organization and for the whole nation as well.

CURRENTLY IN THE PIPELINE

The Philippine Navy is currently tendering on the Landing
Docks Acquisition Project. Image Source.

Currently, the Philippine Navy initiated a bid that will call for a purchase of at least two more Landing Platform Docks which will help complement the Tarlac-class Landing Platform Docks that the Philippine fleet has in its inventory wherein one of such vessels participated in the repatriation process in the Middle East.

One of the participants of this project is Indonesia's PT PAL Persero wherein they provided the Tarlac-class to the Philippine Navy wherein its ideal preference as an extra platform through this project may help ease logistics along the way will increase the number of such vessels in the fleet that obtains the needed carrying capacity for both amphibious operations and HADR or Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Response.

The Philippine Air Force meanwhile, received its fourth C-295 cargo plane in which it was deemed useful during the time when Mindanao, specifically in the City of Davao, was hit by series of earthquakes there as well as the anticipation for the delivery of 16 S-70i Black Hawk Combat Utility Helicopters from Poland either within this year or by next year, and also the idea of having more C-130 and the delivery of six NC-212i in complement to the recently-purchased two NC-212i from Indonesia's PT Dirgantara.

Given these developments, one will say that this indeed the progress that both the Philippine Navy and Air Force obtain in regards to having a logistics platform that gives both of the airlifts and sealift capabilities in which in the process helps mobilize not only the troops and military equipment into combat but also the needed supplies and other matters in any natural calamities and events.

That being said, let us provide the prevalent situations within the country and abroad which gives necessity for such assets like these logistics platforms given that the geography, natural disasters, unrest from overseas, and also other things which are feasible or justifiable of providing more such platforms, along with additional combat vessels for protection.

THE PHILIPPINES, ITS GEOGRAPHY, AND LOGISTICAL CHAIN

The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a meteorologically-active
part of the planet filled with numerous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. 
Image Source.

The Republic of the Philippines sits on the Western Pacific area, an archipelagic nation similar to that with Indonesia wherein it lies on the maritime Southeast Asian nation surrounded by bodies of water from the Bashi Channel to the North, the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea to the West, the Celebes Sea and the Sulu Sea to the South and the Philippine Sea/Pacific Ocean to the east.

This means that it also lies in a geographically-active area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire which explains the number of earthquakes such as those that took place in Davao in the latter part of the year 2019 or in Bohol which was hit in 2013 as well as the number of Volcanic eruptions such as the ones that recently took place on the Taal Volcano in Batangas.

The country also sits at the forefront of the typhoon alley wherein it produces the most powerful storms therein which put lives in danger as well as inflicting damages to property, hampering people's lives on the path of these destructive natural elements with the immediate necessity for basic needs usually came aftermath such as in the case with the Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) which definitely the strongest one in the recent history that had inflicted massive destructive results in areas such as in Eastern Visayas area.

Adding more to the list are several man-made calamities which go as destructive as the natural ones, wherein here goes more the strain with the Southern part of the country in Mindanao being the area most affected by the actions made by radical terrorists and Islamic separatists such as in the case on 2013 Zamboanga Siege and the 2017 Battle of Marawi City.

These natural and man-made disasters are something that will highlight the necessity for logistics platforms wherein it will be ideal to have these situations considered on factoring the future planning in purchase additional logistics platforms needed in increasing the immediate deployment of goods whenever it is needed, addressing the situation at a shorter time.

THE POINTS CORRELATED

A Philippine Air Force C-130T aircraft on the runway.
(c) Robert Rimestead - Philippine Planespotters Group.

The geographical location of the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific region comes with strategic points as well as disadvantages brought by several natural calamities aforementioned that the country is vulnerable to, in which logistical tools and platforms like military aircraft and sealift vessels are needed to quickly respond to these types of scenarios that will immediately provide help.

Currently, the Philippine Air Force operates 5 C-130s of which one was burned and two under maintenance, leaving two of such aircraft operational while having four C-295s and two NC-212s in service in which it may still go insufficient given the reasons that specify specifically more on the nation's vulnerabilities which emphasizes thorough Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Response aside from deployment of military troops, equipment, and supplies in combat at a shorter period.

Moreover, the Philippine Navy currently obtains two Landing Platform Docks, three Balikpapan-class Landing Craft Heavy that was obtained from Australia, a handful of Bacolod-City class Logistics Support Vessel, World War 2-era Landing Ship Tanks, and BRP Tagbanua (AT-296) which is the largest Philippine-built warship to date, in which it will be added more by two Landing Platform Docks in which suppliers such as PT PAL Persero may stand a chance as their product offerings go as similar as the ones already in service with the fleet.

Going with the deployment of ships and plans of sending aircraft to the Middle East, it is just as useful to simply have the BRP Gabriela Silang doing the repatriation work as it sails on its way to the country while letting the country's key airlines doing the same kind of approach of helping Overseas Filipino Workers repatriated which may minimize the strain on the military's key assets for such operation.

Instead, this may help push the idea of purchasing more military platforms - both logistical and combatant ones as it will help the country cope with its capability with existing assets in the inventory regarding in taking rapid response to natural disasters as well as enhanced mobility and deployment of military resources that preserve the country's national security and territorial integrity. 

TO SURMISE THIS UP

The recent deployment of the Philippine Navy to the Middle East with Sri Lanka serving as a stopover shows the importance of both combatant platforms like the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) and a logistics platform like the BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) wherein it gives an idea regarding the necessity of adding them more in sufficient numbers required both in patrolling the waters and providing sealift as well as airlift support in the case of the Philippine Air Force.

Moreover, the country's geographical setting, its vulnerabilities from natural calamities, and the situation of the Filipino diaspora in the Middle East make such an idea on taking such necessity more viable as it shows the country's resolve of taking its citizens out of harm's way which in itself is an attribute for a responsible nation with a government taking care of its people.

It is with here that the Revised AFP Modernization Program based on the current Republic Act 10349 gets more significance as there is something more than what the Armed Forces can do aside from territorial defense wherein logistics platforms may double as both platforms for military mobilization and deployment on areas of concern as well as the ones that serve the people affected by calamities the basic needs at an immediate time possible.

With the projects ongoing such as those for the Landing Docks Acquisition Project, the hopes are high for it to push through as this means additional platforms for the Philippine Navy to utilize aside from its existing landing crafts of various types which include the largest ones it obtain such as the Tarlac-class Landing Platform Docks.

Hence, it will be an interesting thing for all branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including also the Philippine Army with a handful of military trucks in its inventory like the Ural 4320 military trucks from Russia to have more assets at hand on sustainable numbers wherein these logistics platforms are an essential thing to keep an upper hand for the movement of supplies in both peaceful and combat situations. 

To end this entry, let us quote things about logistics:

“The tactics…no, amateurs discuss tactics,…. Professional soldiers study logistics.” – Tom Clancy.

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The Idea of having AGM-84 Harpoon Missiles in the Philippine Air Force

The Philippine Air Force is in the process of having more sophisticated weaponry with several of those platforms already been discussed in detail on this blog website. Moreover, it is notable that the discussions of last year may get it interesting by this year as we entered the third year of the Horizon 2 spanning 2018-2022 wherein several projects may come with some additional packages which may go as part of this discussion.

Pitz Defense Analysis Note: From this year on, there may be variations to how articles will be made on this blog website as we keep on improving on the way we provide information for readers like you to make it more convenient as possible. So, it will be a bit unconventional in terms of getting the details across as substance goes over form which may make our articles a bit shorter.

DISCUSSION OVERVIEW

An AGM-84 Harpoon Missile fitted onboard a U.S. Navy F-18 aircraft.
Image Source.

The discussion of having an anti-ship missile munition goes as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) goes on in improving its capabilities as part of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program or RAFPMP based from R.A. 10349 where it goes along with the desire to have a minimum credible defense posture.

And with that defense posture comes with the idea of obtaining this weaponry as it comes with the idea of protecting the country as a whole wherein the national coastline and the waters that surround the national territory and its archipelagic attribute is something for the Armed Forces to defend with, as part of their mandated duties and responsibilities as to safeguard the integrity and for the best interest of the whole citizenry.

Currently speaking, the Philippine Air Force's planning goes in correlation to this report from Inquirer dated December 19, 2019, in which they presented an idea where they see interest in the possible purchase of AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles in which this is ideal for their later utilization upon this materialization, as it goes apparently to the current progress concerning another project which is the Multirole Fighter Jet Program with the recent article we provided in a link here.

The report coincides with Boeing's marketing pitch that involves another platform which is the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter wherein they showcase its capability that, as a marketing move, goes that it satisfies the needs of the Philippines in terms of defending its territory like those currently taking place in the West Philippine Sea. Take note that the Philippine Air Force has its own Attack Helicopter program in which the competition is between the AH-1Z Viper and the T-129 ATAK helicopter from Turkey. (The discussion for the Apache will be discussed in a future entry).

Setting the helicopter discussions aside, let us deal with the idea of having such a platform given that as far as the Armed Forces of the Philippines is concerned, there are two other anti-ship missile platforms that the other branches within the military are also seeking as it goes integrated onboard warships like those for the new frigates that the Philippine Navy is about to receive this year or those for the Philippine Army that is apparently being finalized this year.

THE STORY OF BOEING'S DEFENSE SECTOR

The P-8 Poseidon was derived from a Boeing 737 design.
Image Source.

To understand more in-detail regarding the AGM-84 Missiles which may soon be available in the Air Force's array of different military guided and unguided sets of loaded munitions in its inventory, let us discuss at a glance with regards to the company that produces it as apparently, they are known enough in the defense industry as their products are what composes of several of the United States Armed Forces' key military assets.

While the current iteration of the company came as the result of Boeing's merge with another prominent U.S. Aerospace/Defense Company McDonnell Douglas, it is worth noted that the company started on July 16, 1916, of which Boeing with its original organization decades before the merge was founded by William E. Boeing where it has resulted from a merger with his other company, Pacific Aero Products Co.

Discussing the company as a whole may take a lot of space which render this page unbearable to read with a lengthy write-up, let us specifically emphasize Boeing's division more known as the Boeing Defense, Space, and Security with its headquarters originally established in St. Louis in Missouri where they transfer recently near the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. and is the one that oversees the production of missiles and other military hardware like the AGM-84 Harpoon Missiles.

Speaking of the history of Boeing's division as compared to the company's overall history, it is worth considering that the division formed just recently with its original form known as the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems which founded on July 10, 2002, where it came as a result of the company's re-organization of its key businesses dealing with the military, defense and security development as well manufacturing matters to streamline corporate operations with the division overlooking defense contract prospects, marketing of military platforms and developing a new set of weaponry for the future U.S. Armed Forces use as well as for ever-changing aspects of combat.

This defense division of Boeing is known to produce key fighter aircraft such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet, different variants of F-15 Strike Eagle as it is originally produced by McDonnell Douglas before the merging of both companies, and AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter which was recently offered by the company to the Philippines and missiles such as the notable AGM-84 Harpoon missiles and drones like the Insitu ScanEagle.

It is nice to take note that the wide range of military assets that Boeing produces is currently in service with several Air Forces and militaries across the world with the United States being its largest customer which affirms its reputation along with its history in the defense industry, although the company is experiencing problems recently especially in its division that deals with commercial aircraft.

Hence, the defense division of Boeing along with the knowledge that McDonnell Douglas has with its own before the merge improves the company's prominence in both the defense and aerospace industry as it is one of the key U.S. Defense Companies that provide military weaponry across the world, along with its competitors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE HARPOON MISSILES

A Harpoon missile (RGM-84) was launched from a U.S. Littoral Combat Ship.
Image Source.

Being in service by around 32 nations across the world, the Harpoon missiles have a good reputation of utilization as it keeps military assets from fighter aircraft to surface vessels armed to teeth which renders an armed force to be much capable in providing deterrence as a result of a development taking place more than half a century ago.

While the United States Armed Forces kickstart a project for anti-ship missiles in 1965, it is not until 1972 that McDonnell Douglas (the one that developed the Harpoon) initiated its first flight wherein it took five more years until the first series of munitions were deployed in 1977, wherein it entered service with the United States Navy onboard its surface warships.

The improvements that were introduced along with the missile came with time as different blocks of Harpoons provided from the original Block 1 of the late 1970s to the Block 1B that was introduced in 1981, the Block 1C wherein this apparently became the recent iteration of the Harpoon of its time developed from 1982, with the Block 2 now the latest version introduced with a first contract set in 1998 and apparently is the current one that the United States and other users have utilized.

A Block II+ version is currently in the planning works, as the United States Government through the congress, has provided support for Boeing to enhance its development of a missile that was introduced five decades earlier as the recent upgrades may provide that significant boost that the U.S. Military may need in the future, something that gives benefit to key allies like the Philippines which seeks such munitions later on.

This goes to show the ever-improving development of the Harpoon missiles which it is currently enjoying support from its manufacturer and even from its key main users like the United States Armed Forces, wherein these guided anti-ship munitions may see more action, in the long run, providing that capability of delivering the payload sufficiently unto the target vessel with satisfiable results.

SPECIFICATIONS AND VARIANTS

The Harpoon missile's specs. Click to enlarge. Image Source.

Being introduced in the early 1970s, the Harpoon missile is the most common missile weaponry munition in the western military's arsenal, in which it can be seen launched onboard military warships such as Destroyers and Frigates, Submarines, and military aircraft particularly the ones that are made in the United States like the Boeing-produced F-15 Strike Eagle and F/A-18 Super Hornet.

As discussed, there are several Blocks which define the developmental stages of the Harpoon missiles wherein the then-McDonnell Douglas and eventually, Boeing introduced features which are incorporated on the missiles with the Block 1 launched in an altitude before diving itself then skimming into its target with the Block 1B removing such a feature and eventually the Block 1C having it as an optional thing.

The Block 2's feature meanwhile is an improvement from the previous developmental stages of the Harpoon missile as it incorporates additional attributes involving resistance from countermeasures such as an enemy anti-air missile launched in defense from a VLS or vertically-launched system of a warship coupled with a Close-in Weapons System or CIWS as well as having an improved targeting feature which ensures that the missile will have a greater chance of getting into the target accurately.

There are at least three variants of the Harpoon missiles in inventory which come as follows - 

AGM-84 - A Harpoon variant that can be launched from an aircraft and is also the one that the Philippine Air Force considers for its additional inventory of guided munitions weaponry.

RGM-84 - A surface-launched Harpoon variant that can be found onboard surface warships such as Destroyers like the Arleigh-Burke class of the United States Navy, or Frigates and other warships of any type from any of its 30 users of such military platform.

UGM-84 - Submarine-launched variant of the Harpoon missile.

These anti-ship missiles are compatible enough to be fitted onboard US-made aircraft in the case for the AGM-84 as a plug-and-play feature wherein there will be fewer configurations needed as the weaponry goes along with the ecosystem that it came along as it goes on the idea of interoperability along with the military platforms in service within the United States Armed Forces and on the other users of such weaponry.

Its range as provided in the graph is at approximately 67 nautical miles which are converted to 124.084 kilometers in distance from the platform it was launched - either from a warship, submarine, or an aircraft up to its intended target at a high subsonic speed of Mach 0.9, nearing at the speed of sound which is at Mach 1.

With the details provided, it is for sure will provide a capability that any armed forces desire to have against enemy targets specifically an intruding nation's frigate or destroyer wherein one shows resolve or simply deterrence of obtaining such platform that having a minimum credible defense posture still in itself a force to get reckoned with.

AS PART OF THE MULTIROLE FIGHTER JET PROJECT

The Philippine Air Force includes these munitions as part
of the Multirole Fighter Jet Program. Credits to the original source.

It is well known that the Philippine Air Force is currently embarking on what will be known as one of its notable big-ticket projects under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP) Horizon 2 which is the acquisition that involves 12 units of Multirole Fighter Jets, equatable to a single squadron.

Read: Updates for the Philippine Air Force Multirole Fighter Jet Acquisition Project

With the abstract budget of the contract pegged at Php 61,200,000,000.00 based on an exchange rate of Php55.00 as opposed to US$1.00, and with the current exchange rate between the Philippine Peso and the US Dollar as of article posting at Php50.00 as opposed to US$1.00, it is not surprising that there is something more with the budget can provide in terms of having just the units alone.

This is where the report came in with Boeing pitching the AH-64 Apache have while having negotiations on a possible purchase of the Harpoon missile which will be done through a Foreign Military Sales route, rendering an idea of providing the incoming multirole fighter jets capability in delivering such payload needed that is essential for the protection of the country's national territory from the enemy's capable surface warships, given that the Philippines as an archipelago is surrounded by bodies of water in which the Air Force in this manner may help augment the Philippine Navy in terms of firepower aside from their duties and responsibilities in protecting the Philippine Air Defense Identification System or PADIZ.

With the Lockheed Martin F-16 Viper being the currently preferred candidate for the Multirole Fighter Jet program, it is an additional thing in putting munitions such as the AGM-84 in the picture wherein the weaponry can simply be fitted onboard the aircraft as a plug and play component which is an advantage especially in having both the platform and the weapons fit have originated and produced by a single nation.

Therefore, it will be a promising thing for the organization to have such a capable platform wherein it also comes with weaponry that is also capable in terms of delivering such firepower that will sufficiently undermine the enemy especially on its intent that poses threat against a country's sovereignty.

THE LOGISTICS AND THE THREE ANTISHIP MISSILE SYSTEMS WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES

While the PAF will have the Harpoon, the PN meanwhile
will soon have this - the SSM-700K "Haesong" anti-ship missile.
Image obtained via Wikimedia Commons.

While the deal with the Philippine Air Forces is on obtaining Harpoon missiles as its own anti-ship weaponry that can be delivered from a multirole fighter aircraft, other branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have varying military weaponry with them which were obtained from different sources, in different countries, while attaining such a similar purpose of eliminating such a target from the sea.

First of those missiles is the South Korean-made SSM-700K "Haesong" anti-ship missile in which we discussed in another article dealing with an advent for a missile-guided Philippine Navy wherein these missiles are expected to be fitted onboard the newest class of warships that the organization is about to obtain this year which is the Jose Rizal-class Frigates - BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151).

Both of the ships were made by Hyundai Heavy Industries with most of its subcomponents fitted are originated from South Korea such as the Hanwha Systems Naval Shield ICMS and the SSM-700K which will be the default anti-ship munitions of these warships that will be the most sophisticated ones that the Philippine Navy will soon obtain.

Another missile system is the Philippine Army's BrahMos cruise anti-ship missiles which will be purchased from India through BrahMos Aerospace wherein the Department of National Defense is seeking to have two batteries, each with three launchers as opposed to four launchers that the Indian Armed Forces employ on their respective missile batteries, rendering the Army's shifting capabilities from internal security to external defense matters as they may later have the capability to destroy targets at sea which augments both the Navy and later the Air Force's capabilities in doing the same thing.

Having three anti-ship missile systems across all of the three military branches under the Armed Forces of the Philippines seems to pose a logistical challenge given that all of these systems are designed with a purpose in line with the country's defense posture which is to eliminate targets at sea, specifically surface warships that poses threat against national security.

Despite having such a potential challenge, let it be take noted that the Harpoon missile is a plug-and-play platform for the currently preferred MRF of the Philippine Air Force while such a thing is not possible, if not going expensive, with the Indian BrahMos missile which in itself is capable with its speed almost three times than that of the Harpoon and can be launched from land, and also with the SSM-700K which was chosen as the default weaponry for the Jose Rizal-class Frigates that the Philippine Navy will soon to have.

Therefore, the difference in requirements between military service branches has their respective reasons so as for the AFP to have three different capable anti-ship missile systems, with different attributes and capabilities which all goes with the country's desire in building up with tools required and needed for a minimum credible defense posture.

IN SUMMARIZING THINGS UP

The United States Air Force F-16 Multirole Fighter Jet is equipped
with AGM-84 Harpoon Missile. Image Source.

The Philippine Air Force, in the same manner as the different military branches within the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is ramping up its capabilities which came along in protecting the nation's territorial integrity and national interest, which means protecting the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone and providing air support on areas needed.

This is done with the number of procurements being made through the years like the Korean Aerospace Industries FA-50PH and eventually embarking on its project that is currently being materialized such as the Multirole Fighter Jet Program wherein there is the competition between Lockheed Martin's F-16 Viper and SAAB's JAS-39 C/D variant with the former currently in the advantage.

That being said, obtaining weaponry through fitted munitions such as the AGM-84 Harpoon missiles that the Philippine Air Force is seeking is just as essential as the Multirole Fighter Jets it pursues to have so as it will give these jets the fullest potential of its capability as it is getting to be a force that reckons with especially for a maritime nation like the Philippines that relies on such platforms in terms of defense matters which helps augment the firepower that goes in line with the role of the Philippine Navy.

Despite having three different anti-ship missile platforms, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is desirable to have such kind of weaponry as these missiles, although originated from different countries which were made by different suppliers, may still get its job done as all of these platforms came in line with the minimum credible defense that the country needs in defending its national territory and integrity from external threats.

Nevertheless, the AGM-84 Harpoon missile, along with the Multirole Fighter Jet aircraft which are both being finalized, may be done within this year as having these things will provide a much-needed boost for the Philippine Air Force to have, wherein it goes with the aspirations, hopes, and dreams that the momentum will be gained from thereon.

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Indonesian APS-3 Panser Anoa 6x6 Armored Personnel Carrier for the Philippine Army?

The Philippine Army, along with other branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is in its process of having its procurement projects getting materialized as the tools they needed are something that will help them uphold their duties and responsibilities as they are now coping with both threats inside and outside of the country with respective military weaponry and units being utilized to get the job done.

DISCUSSION OVERVIEW

Indonesian-made Armored Personnel Carrier offered to the
Philippine Army. Obtained via Wikimedia Commons.

It is known that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is working with the greatest effort to Modernize the organization on a higher level, of which military branches like the Philippine Army is doing what it can to form new units, add more manpower, and most of all pouring resources on several procurement projects which help uphold their duties and responsibilities in the process.

Moreover, it is known that the Philippine Army currently has a handful of Armored Personnel Carriers in its inventory, coming in the form of V-150 Chamites, GKN Simbas and the numerous M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier which has come with various weapons fits wherein the recent ones include upgrades on weapons systems and firepower as provided by Elbit Systems of Israel coming in the form of UT-25 gun turrets and remote-controlled weapons systems (RCWS).

Given the age of several of those aforementioned armored personnel carriers, especially to the wheeled variants, it will be not surprising for the Armed Forces especially for the Philippine Army to take that approach of modernizing such a fleet of military platforms to effectively augment the numbers needed for these units to be employed in combat and eventually getting them replaced along the way.

It is worth taking note that this discussion will involve a neighboring Southeast Asian country wherein its military-industrial self-reliance comes with the story which will help them bolster their entry on the weapons export market in a manner that improves this industrial field which in the process improves their economy and their desires of getting a firm foothold on this market.

This neighboring Southeast Asian manufacturer is also the one that is marketing this armored personnel vehicle in which it is also in service in the country of origin wherein it complies with the qualifications needed in terms of considering this offer for the procurement process covering this project for the Philippine Army.

KNOWING INDONESIA'S PT PINDAD

PT Pindad Panser Anoa's production line. Take note that it is
with this vehicle that they pitch on for the Philippine Army
Armored Personnel Carrier (wheeled) program.
Courtesy to Deutsches Asienforschungszentrum's website.

PT-Pindad (Persero) is an Indonesian State-owned military enterprise in which it goes reminiscent to the Philippine's Government Arsenal, only that the former specializes its manufacturing capability to the production of armored vehicles like the Panser Anoa (as seen in the image of its production line) as well as being operated as a form of a Government Controlled Corporation and the latter specializing itself on the production of firearms ammunitions and refurbishment of government-issued firearms with its management primarily under the Department of National Defense.

Its history started with the Dutch Colonial Era which was governing Indonesia which was known at that time as the Dutch East Indies wherein in 1808, it's Governor-General William Herman Daendels established a workshop which is intended for procurement, maintenance, and repairs of the Netherlands Colonial Forces' military arsenal wherein it is called as the Constructie Winkel, which was renamed in 1851 as the  Artilerie Constructie Winkel (ACW), wherein these workshops are situated in Surabaya.

Throughout the colonial period, it served as an instrument for the Dutch Colonial Government to produce military equipment and munitions of which it will be utilized by its forces as part of their operations in the East Indies wherein they decided to transfer their workshops to Bandung during the First World War wherein the Netherlands involved.

After the Japanese surrender in 1945 (of which they utilize these workshops/factories throughout the Second World War as part of their occupation in Indonesia), the factories are compiled together which became the Leger Produktie Bedrijven (LPB), wherein its organization setup remained until the Dutch recognition of the Indonesian Independence in 1949 in which they subject to turn-over colonial assets to the newly-formed government of which it includes the LPB.

At the first organization of the Indonesian Government, the Leger Produktie Bedrijven (LPB) was renamed as the Pabrik Senjata dan Mesiu (PSM) or the Weapons and Ammunitions Factory, then to Pabal AD and eventually to Pindad, under the management of the Indonesian National Army or the Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Ankatan Darat (TNI-AD) wherein it produces military equipment and munitions for the Indonesian Military.

Those periods of being under the Indonesian National Armed Forces go reminiscent of the operations of the Philippine Government Arsenal of the current date where weaponry and munitions are being produced and refurbished as it provides the needs of the Philippine Armed Forces as well as those for the Philippine National Police.

PT Pindad became a limited company which is its current composition in 1978 as the government seeks transfer of technology wherein it goes with their own desire to have an indigenous military industry as well as to advance further self-reliance in providing more sophisticated military platforms from just basic weapons and munitions in which its stocks are majority controlled by the Indonesian Government (which is their own form of a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation).

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Anoa's design seen semblance to the French VAB, of which
it is utilized currently by Indonesia. Obtained via Wikimedia Commons.

The Panser Anoa is indeed an armored personnel carrier proudly made in Indonesia, although its story will not be completed without giving an ideal picture regarding its design and development before getting in service within Indonesia's National Armed Forces, especially to its Army.

Its inspiration may be seen in another armored personnel carrier which is currently in service with the Indonesian Armed Forces wherein this was produced by a country situated in Europe, by a country that is also known for exporting valuable military equipment of various types to countries that has an interest in obtaining them in the same way as to how the United States and other countries do arms export.

Coming into this picture is the French VAB or known as Vehicule de l’Avant Blinde where was produced by France's Nexter Systems which was formerly the Giat Industries with its production units of VAB Armored Personnel Carriers currently in service in at least 15 countries which includes France itself and Indonesia where they get the cue for the Panser Anoa's design.

As for the development of the Panser Anoa, or APS-3 as it is designated by Pindad, it all started in 2003 when the Indonesian government laid down the framework for a new armored personnel carrier in which the PT Pindad, being a Limited Company with stocks owned by the Indonesian Government initiated its development for such a unit needed by the Indonesian National Army.

Three years later, the APS-3 was unveiled by the manufacturer followed by its production wherein the first 150 units have delivered to the Indonesian Armed Forces, validating along the process its current qualification in the standards that the Philippine Defense Department seeks on military procurement in terms of being utilized by the manufacturer's country of origin.

It takes three more years for the Indonesian Government to utilize these indigenously-built armored personnel carriers in combat operations which shows the capability of an Indonesian Defense Industry like PT Pindad in producing such a platform on a massive scale that provides that assured self-reliance that the country needs, something that provides the Philippines some example for its own Self-Reliance Defense Posture or SRDP.

Now, they are expanding it up by selling these proudly made in Indonesia military asset in which they set sights on its neighboring Southeast Asian Country which have set precedent to the interest of getting this topic discussed in the first place, which this move goes reminiscent to another Indonesian defense industrial component that has successfully sold their respective products to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

SPECIFICATIONS

The PT Pindad Panser Anoa's Specifications.
Click to enlarge. Image Source.

The specification of the PT Pindad product Panser Anoa is provided in an image above as resourced from the Military Factory Website in which its primary user the Indonesian National Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Darat or TNI-AD) obtains around 308 units of such platform and remains the sole user of these armored personnel carriers to date.

Its production numbers provide the capacity that PT Pindad obtains in producing these armored personnel carriers in which they are up to the challenge of marketing its products abroad given its prominent use within the Indonesian Armed Forces in the hopes of getting an export customer as they have the desire of getting a fair share of the international defense market.

Its service alone in the Indonesian Armed Forces satisfies the procurement requirements that the Armed Forces of the Philippines obtain where one country of origin or at least two countries have such platforms actively used as opposed to the other candidate that PT Pindad also pushes which is the Harimau Hitam (also known as the Kaplan MT) for the Army's Light Tank Acquisition Project - Tracked tank portion.

Its size goes reminiscent of the known armored personnel carriers/infantry fighting vehicles that were discussed here such as the original ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle (with the ASCOD II MMBT being a candidate for the Philippine Army Light Tank Project - tracked variant) and the Pandur II Infantry Vehicle (with its fire support variant being a candidate for the same Light Tank Project for wheeled variant) where the size range comes at a length of 5.7 (Pandur 1) up to 7.5-7.6 m (Pandur 2/ASCOD - Austrian ULAN) with the width of 2.5 (both Pandur and Panser Anoa) up to 3.4 m (ASCOD - Austrian ULAN).

Its powerplant is a French-made Renault MIDR 062045 diesel engine which is also can be found on the French-made Vehicule de l’Avant Blinde or VAB that the APS-3 Panser Anoa was derived upon which produces 320 horsepower which is more powerful than the Cummins ISC 350 diesel that powers the Pandur 2 IFV while it is lesser than the MTU V8 199 T21 diesel engine that is provided on an Austrian ULAN IFV, an ASCOD variant.

As compared to the French VAB in which the APS-3 Panser Anoa was derived (with its development traced way back 1976), there comes a semblance wherein the specifications of both platforms are almost similar one after the other, with the Indonesian Panser Anoa garnering an additional single seat for the crew with a bit more powerful engine derived from the same manufacturer (such as Renault), almost similar in dimension and having a range less than half than the VAB.

The APS-3 with its specifications is something that the Indonesian Armed Forces seeks in its fleet of armored personnel carriers which is the thing that the Philippine Army may consider given that both countries share the same attributes in its topography and geographic features wherein such capabilities are something of an additive for the latter as it keeps on modernizing for the better.

AS OPPOSED TO THE PHILIPPINE ARMY'S EXISTING WHEELED ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER PLATFORMS

A Philippine Army GKN Simba on Display. Image courtesy of
Wikimedia Commons.

The Philippine Army currently obtains a handful of wheeled armored personnel carriers in its inventory along with tracked ones which point particularly to the M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier wherein several of such units were upgraded recently with several sophisticated fitted weaponry of various types as provided by an Israeli Company.

Its wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers come at two variables - the GKN Simba in which it was produced by GKN Sankey which is now currently part of BAE Systems situated in the United Kingdom, and the V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando wherein both are still in service within the Philippine Army as of the current date.

As for the GKN Simba wherein the Philippine Army being the sole user of such type of Armored Personnel Carriers in the world, its specifications are roughly similar to the Indonesian APS-3 Panser Anoa offer as it obtains almost similar 600-kilometer range while the GKN Simba being lighter than the APS-3 at 11.2 tons as opposed to 14 tons with its engines getting lesser horsepower than on the platform that PT Pindad offered.

There are also some rough similarities with another wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier that the Philippine Army obtains which is the V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando as its specifications have gone reminiscent with the GKN Simba which correlates its weight at 11 tons while being powered by a single 202 horsepower Chrysler V-104 diesel engine which has lesser output than the APS-3 Panser Anoa and obtains that roughly-similar 600-kilometer range that the two aforementioned wheeled armored personnel carriers obtain.

Given these details, the APS-3 does not provide too much of a feature that will show as an improvement over the existing platforms that the Philippine Army has in its inventory wherein both the V-150 Cadillac Gage Commando and the GKN Simba have almost similar capabilities that the APS-3 Panser Anoa to provide, only that these two types of armored personnel carrier platforms are taking its age which affects its efficiency in MRO or Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul.

Moreover, it is worth highlighting that while the V-150 has a lot of users that are worthy of sourcing spare parts for its operations, the GKN Simba wherein the Philippine Army being the sole user of such platform may be seen as a problem in terms of its operations in the long run as the source for spare parts may go scarce which hampers its own logistical chain in which the APS-3 Panser Anoa offer by PT Pindad may be seen as an ideal thing to have.

From here, it may not be that surprising if the idea of having the GKN Simba wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers replaced, later on, gets arise as the idea of simplifying the logistical chain and having a source for spare parts needed in maintenance and repair are necessities to keep these armored vehicles operational for the years to come, with the APS-3 Panser Anoa having that support from its manufacturer PT Pindad which aspires to export its product and currently used by the Indonesian Armed Forces.

THE INDONESIAN MILITARY EXPORT PROSPECTS TO THE PHILIPPINES

Philippine Marine Corps KAAV-7s disembarking from BRP
Davao del Sur's well deck. Obtained from DVIDSHUB.

Through the recent years, it is worth notable that even before the offers made for the APS-3 Panser Anoa Armored Personnel Carrier of PT Pindad for the Philippine Army use for its inventory, there are already several Indonesian defense industries of various types that have managed to seal the deal with the Armed Forces of the Philippines which deals with different military equipment as needed across different military service branches.

One of those defense industries that have first set the trend for Indonesian military export of defense equipment is PT PAL Persero in which it provided two Landing Platform Docks for the Philippine Navy wherein it was derived from the Banjarmasin-class Landing Platform Docks which in turn derived itself from the Korean-designed Makassar-class Landing Platform Docks known as the Tarlac-class Landing Platform Docks with two ships currently in service which are the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and the BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602, as seen in the image above).

Another project that was made in Indonesia that has found its way to the inventory of the Philippine Armed Forces is the NC-212i Light Lift Aircraft that the Philippine Air Force accepted way back June 26, 2018, wherein they ordered two units of such type of aircraft that was made by another Indonesian defense industry which is the PT Dirgantara which produces aircraft for both the Indonesian Armed Forces and also for export, with the design of the NC-212i derived from the EADS-CASA which was absorbed eventually to the Airbus Military as the C-212 Aviocar.

Aside from these platforms that were accepted into the Armed Forces of the Philippines, it's worth considering that PT Pindad as a manufacturer is also pitching for another type of armored vehicle intended for another military acquisition project specified to those for the Philippine Army which is the Harimau Hitam (Kaplan MT) vehicle for the country's Light Tank Acquisition Project - tracked portion with its competitors is the ASCOD 2 MMBT from the General Dynamics European Land System (and pitched by Israel's Elbit Systems) and the K21-105 Medium Tank from South Korea's Hanwha Systems who also secured the award for the Philippine Marine Corps' eight-unit KAAV-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicles.

These platforms are just some of the examples that have provided wherein the Philippines have several of its military platforms supplanted by its fellow ASEAN neighbor whose military industry is on its rise as they are aspiring with the sale of these platforms which in the process increase their prominence in the international defense market.

It serves as a win-win for both sides wherein the buyer gets the assets it needs to continuously carry out its duties and responsibilities as defenders of the nation while the supplier getting its defense industry to grow further as this prospect help boost their local economy as well as to sustain this industry that will help them obtain the tools in terms of self-reliance for the years to come.

This goes to show the relations between the Philippines and Indonesia as neighbors which are getting stronger after its foundations way back in 1949 wherein it goes with the commonality that both of these nations have in terms of being both the members in ASEAN with improving economies, a democratic form of government and having similar geographic set up in a form of an archipelago.

WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN

PT Pindad Panser Anoa on display on the Philippine Army
Technology Day 2019. Image Source.

Recently, PT Pindad showcased its key military products in a Philippine Army even such as the one from the 2019 AFP Anniversary as they displayed their products such as the Panser Anoa (as indicated on the image above) along with the Harimau Hitam Tank as both have participated on the service branch's Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier Acquisition Project and Light Tank Acquisition Project, respectively.

This definitely shows that the company is pitching that hard wherein this action, shall they manage to win a contract in any of the projects they participated, may mean additional leverage in gaining a foothold on their part as they have the desire of increasing their presence in the export military defense market, with these developments being considered as the first export prospect for this Indonesian based defense industry.

It is not a first for Indonesia to export military equipment for the Philippine Armed Forces as they already did it through PT PAL Persero's Tarlac-class Landing Platform Docks (wherein they have the chance to bag the project for two more additional Landing Platform Docks for the Philippine Navy) and through PT Digantara as they exported the NC-212s for the requirements needed by the Philippine Air Force.

Given the points provided above, it is not far from a certainty that such a platform may go considered as the Panser Anoa is being actively produced by its Manufacturer and being utilized by the Indonesian Armed Forces, as the Philippine Army may see the desire of getting such platforms that will help augment its existing platforms like the GKN Simba and the V-150 Cadillac Gage and eventually having them replaced as logistically needed in the long run.

Overall, this project is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Grand Scheme of things as they keep on pushing their Modernization efforts as capabilities are being enhanced which helps them carry out their duties and responsibilities mandated to them by the laws the country has enacted with the aspiration of keeping the nation and its citizens safe and its interest safeguarded for the benefit of the people in the generations to come.

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