The capability of the Philippine Navy, to build its own major warship vessels, may no longer be a far-fetched idea. In fact, it might happen next year. The Philippine Navy eyes foreign shipbuilders to acquire additional multi-mission vessels, including warships and submarines.
As part of its long-term modernization program, a local company wants to get a share of the country's defense spending on maritime assets. But it admits the ambitious plan could not be carried out without challenges.
In terms of the ability to build vessels, the Philippines can actually do a lot. The country has some medium-sized to large-sized shipyards. A lot of the assets can potentially be built here locally. What is lacking is probably the experience, and the proven track record to physically build a warship. On the upside, tapping local shipyards to build the Navy's warships can benefit the economy, particularly the labor sector.
Earlier this year, The Philippine Navy’s capability to build its own warships, particularly the small and hard-hitting fast-attack interdictor craft missile (FAIC-M), got a needed boost after Israel Shipyards Limited transferred the documents and keys of a newly refurbished shipyard to its possession. The upgraded shipyard is located at Naval Station, Pascual Ledesma in Cavite City.
The newly refurbished naval shipyard will facilitate the local construction of the three FAIC-M vessels, which will form part of the fleet of the Philippine Navy’s Acero-class patrol gunboats. Its formal handover ceremony was lined up last May as part of the Navy’s pre-anniversary activities.
This is a significant milestone for the ship-building capability of the Philippine Navy and at the time boosts the country’s Self-Reliant Defense Posture Program, one of the current 10-point agenda of the Department of National Defense. The 32-meter long fast-attack interdictor craft missiles are high-speed vessels equipped with quick intercept ability, remote stabilized weapons, and short-range missiles that are capable of delivering precision strikes against larger hostiles and high-value targets on land and sea.
Four of the fast-attack interdictor craft missiles will be armed with non-line-of-sight missiles with pinpoint accuracy and a range of 25 kilometers while the other five will be armed with Typhoon-mounted 30mm main cannons and .50 caliber heavy machine guns. The acquisition of these fast-attack interdictor craft missile is among the 2019 projects approved by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s under the Horizon 2 List of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.
The Philippines can develop its own shipbuilding industry to ensure the military will have the capability to secure the country and its territorial waters from piracy, terrorism and encroachment.
Philippines Shipbuilding Industry.
Since 2008, the Philippines notched 4th in the rank of the largest shipbuilding nations of the world following South Korea, China, and Japan; the country has covered 1.6% of the world’s ship production with more than a hundred ships produced per year and roughly 5900 gross tonnages overall.
As of 2021, there are 118 registered shipyards, 17 of which belong to the medium-large scale category or classification, these yards are scattered along with the country’s three main island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
On the other hand, the overwhelming coastline and seabed characteristics make it accommodating for large vessels as well. In addition, the country’s anchorage area, ports, and wharf facilities have been providing the safest shelter for vessels against strong typhoons.
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