Manila: The armed forces is due to take delivery of billions of pesos worth of military hardware as part of efforts to upgrade the capability of the Philippine armed forces.
By November this year, the Philippine Air Force will take into service four brand new Sokol medium transport helicopters from Poland's PZL Swidnik, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. was quoted by reports as saying.
The helicopter acquisition package is worth P2.8 billion (Dh230,900,000) and is expected to boost the military's internal security capability as well as ability to move troops anywhere in the country at short notice and with considerable reliability.
The impending addition of the Polish-manufactured aircraft marks the only occasion that the Philippines had sourced its helicopters from another manufacturer other than those in the United States.
The country had sourced all of its helicopters from the US, either as surplus hardware or had been bought used from Singapore.
Aside from the Sokols, the military is also expected to upgrade its MD 520 attack helicopters which is used in air to ground combat roles against insurgents.
Philippine arms acquisition in the past have largely been confined to weapons used in counterinsurgency operations, however, the country is increasingly giving attention to addressing external threats.
The Philippine Navy is expect to put into service its Hamilton class frigate from the US by September this year.
Considered as one of the largest combat ships in the Philippine fleet, the P1.5 billion (Dh127,000,000) yet to be named Hamilton-class frigate will provide the country's navy to venture into deeper waters.
In comparison, all other ships in the country's fleet are limited to coastal operations.
Reports said that aside from the ship due to be in service by September, officials are negotiating for the acquisition of a second Hamilton class frigate.
The country is also upgrading one of its three Peacock class coastal patrol vessels bought from the United Kingdom.
A gunboat and a landing craft bought from South Korea are also expected to arrive within the year.
Oban said the addition of the new weapons in the Philippine arsenal will greatly enhance the navy's capability to patrol the archipelagic country's coastlines which is considered one of the most expansive in the world.
