Philippines signed 5-yr deal with Italy for frigate, destroyer, fighter-bombers, UAVs

[Sootan]

No way in hell the Philippines would be getting Tornado. They'd be prohibitively expensive to operate for a country that has until now been limited to basic jet operations. AMX and the Korean T-50 should be more than enough for the PhAF's needs.

Aren't those Tornado's a little long in the tooth as well?

[morethanwhy]

Confirmed by the Defense Secretary today, PH will be buying 2 Maestrale frigates from Italy for US$130 million each.

Delivery is projected in November 2013 after 9 months of refurbishment/upgrade.

[Silent Reader]

Certainly a needed upgrade for the Philipinian navy... though would it be a problem to get all the crew in time?
After all they are expaning quite a bit with the US coast guard ships they got recently.

[comet]

^^ I dunno.. aren't other countries expanding/upgrading more than them and still got crews for their new toys? Don't think that would be a problem.

[morethanwhy]

for the WHECs, the PN sent crews for training on board active USCG WHECs well before the handover, the same could be done for the Maestrales - crews training on active ships while the two are still in drydock.

and the PN has been actively recruiting with no shortage of applicants with technical & professional education- the AFP is considered to be one of the stable employers and recent pay increases under the administration of Aquino make life in the services a bit more bearable.

[Ambassador]

What distinction does the PhAF make between AMX and TA-50? Their capability kinda overlaps, as TA-50 also employs guided weapons. With supersonic performance, and more modern avionics, I think TA-50 would already make the better fighter.

*Philippines confirms T/A-50 purchase, says talks on Italian frigates progressing
The Philippine Department of National Defence (DND) has chosen the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) T/A-50 to fulfil the Philippine Air Force's (PAF's) requirement for a...
03-Aug-2012

http://www4.janes.com/subscribe/jdw/...JDW&QueryText=

[junglejim]

TA-50 is a LIFT while the AMX is bomb truck (Surface Attack Aircraft).

[Ambassador]

I see. I thought that SAA was supposed to be a prop aircraft (Super Tucano, KA-1, etc).

[junglejim]

I see. I thought that SAA was supposed to be a prop aircraft (Super Tucano, KA-1, etc).

It was just being considered, but the Air Defense wing changed the parameters with more weight in Air Defense. So the TA-%0 Won. For the strike aircraft it is the Tucano.

[xav]

Philippine started negotiations for the purchase of 2 Italian Navy Maestrale class ASW Frigates
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index...sk=view&id=554

Maestrale class Anti-Submarine frigates technical datasheet
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index...sk=view&id=553

[D-Mitch]

Philippine started negotiations for the purchase of 2 Italian Navy Maestrale class ASW Frigates
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index...sk=view&id=554

Maestrale class Anti-Submarine frigates technical datasheet
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index...sk=view&id=553

It is true then, Italian Navy will decommission Mestrale class. Many ships will follow as well, the numbers are quite impressive..

Italian Navy Decommissioning Schedule by ship class (by jammerjamesky, http://www.timawa.net)

Official source: http://www.difesa.it/Sala_Stampa/ras...012&pdfIndex=8

2012:

1. one Soldati class frigate (Artigliere)
2. two Minerva class corvettes (Minerva, Sibilla)
3. two Lerici class minehunters (Lerici, Sapri)
4. one Atlante class tug (Promoteo)

2013:

1. one Maestrale class frigate (Maestrale)
2. one Soldati class frigate (Granatiere)
3. one Minerva class corvette (Danaide)
4. three Ciclope class tugs (Ciclope, Gigante, Tenace)

2014:

1. one Maestrale class frigate (Espero)
2. one Minerva class corvette (Urania)

2015:

1. one Maestrale class frigate (Aliseo)
2. one Soldati class frigate (Aviere)
3. one Minerva class corvette (Sfinge)
4. one Lerici class minehunter (Milazzo)
5. some small vessels (Propora, Murena, Astice, Mitilo)
6. one salvage ship (Anteo)

2016:

1. one Maestrale class frigate (Euro)
2. one Minerva class corvette (Driade)
3. one Stromboli class replenishment vessel (Stromboli)

[easyand2]

On that list the first Maestrale is going to be retired from active duty on december 31 2013, but since she is sold to the Philippines the navy is probably going to retire the ship on december 31 2012

[icefrog]

It is true then, Italian Navy will decommission Mestrale class. Many ships will follow as well, the numbers are quite impressive..

Italian Navy Decommissioning Schedule by ship class (by jammerjamesky, http://www.timawa.net)

Official source: http://www.difesa.it/Sala_Stampa/ras...012&pdfIndex=8

2012:

1. one Soldati class frigate (Artigliere)
2. two Minerva class corvettes (Minerva, Sibilla)
3. two Lerici class minehunters (Lerici, Sapri)
4. one Atlante class tug (Promoteo)

2013:

1. one Maestrale class frigate (Maestrale)
2. one Soldati class frigate (Granatiere)
3. one Minerva class corvette (Danaide)
4. three Ciclope class tugs (Ciclope, Gigante, Tenace)

2014:

1. one Maestrale class frigate (Espero)
2. one Minerva class corvette (Urania)

2015:

1. one Maestrale class frigate (Aliseo)
2. one Soldati class frigate (Aviere)
3. one Minerva class corvette (Sfinge)
4. one Lerici class minehunter (Milazzo)
5. some small vessels (Propora, Murena, Astice, Mitilo)
6. one salvage ship (Anteo)
7. one Sauro class submarine (Pelosi)

2016:

1. one Maestrale class frigate (Euro)
2. one Minerva class corvette (Driade)
3. one Stromboli class replenishment vessel (Stromboli)
4. one Sauro class submarine (Prini)

I'll just add something on the list (on bold)for completion purposes.


Pelosi S522 Fincantieri 14.07.88
Prini S523 Fincantieri 17.05.89
Lombard S524 Fincantieri 14.12.93
Gazzana S525 Fincantieri 12.06.95

source: http://www.marina.difesa.it/uominime...asseSauro.aspx
http://www.deagel.com/Conventional-A...000275002.aspx


If we look at that list, majority of the PN's desired force mix by 2020 can be picked from those. All refurbished, overhauled and upgraded of course.

[EdisonTrent]

South Korean defense manufacturer signifies interest to provide DND's frigate requirements
By Priam F. Nepomuceno

MANILA, March 2 (PNA) -- A South Korean defense manufacturer is now talking with the Department of National Defense (DND) regarding its requirements for two brand new frigates.
A DND observer said that the company is offering the Philippines varieties of the "Incheon" class frigates.
"Some initial talks are now being held and hopefully, the company will get a chance to bid for our frigate requirements," he stressed.
He also pointed out that talks with the South Korean defense manufacturer came about when the DND decided to not go ahead with the planned purchase of the Italian "Maestrale" frigates due to questions of cost and hull aging.

(More at the link) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=1&rid=502983

[Ambassador]

So the Philippines upped the negotiations from TA-50 to FA-50 and is now considering Korean frigates as well. Very good developments for our strategic relationship.

Hanjin already operates the Subic shipyard in the Philippines; perhaps the two can come up with an arrangement to allow local production of parts or even the entire hull of future Korean warships for the Philippine Navy. Hanjin produces a variety of ships for ROKN (Dokdo, LST-II, PKX-A).

http://www.hanjinsc.com/eng/biz/ship/subic.aspx

They are also setting up an integrated maintenance facility for USN battle groups in Subic Bay with Huntington Ingall Industries. All in all very good for business to the Philippines.

“It’s great that AMSEC’s relationship with HHIC-PHIL has been firmly established,” said Harris Leonard, HIIvice president and president of AMSEC operations. “This partnership enables us to leverage Hanjin’s state of the art shipyard at Subic Bay, and I am confident we’ll be able to expand our efforts in providing quality technical services to ourmost important customer, the U.S. Navy, wherever they may be operating.”

HHIC-PHIL is a subsidiary of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction. Completed in Subic Bay, Philippines in 2009, HHIC-PHIL’s Subic Shipyard is equipped with high-tech shipbuilding facilities that include two(2) mega-docks with 550m in length and 135m in breadth, 4 km of waterfront quay facilities, four(4) units of Goliath Cranes and an Assembly Shop with automated facilities of 1,000m in length. Hanjin’s Subic Bay Shipyard generates 5 percent of the GDP of the Republic of the Philippines and is one of the largest single employers in the Philippines. Because of the capabilities of the Subic Shipyard, the Philippines currently ranks as the world’s 5th largest ship building country.

http://www.hanjinsc.com/eng/pr/notic...x?noticeID=254

The shipyard produces 5% of RP's GDP, so it's an important strategic asset that will be worth all the investment to further expand and modernize. As the Philippines' no.1 shipyard, it's well positioned to provide strategic capabilities not only for warship maintenance but also high-level production.