ORD PABAC2-061-24 Carbine, 5.56mm (AR15/M4 Platform), Gas Piston Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army

The Philippine Army (PA) has raised a requirement for the acquisition of new 5.56mm Carbines as part of its acquisition for Fiscal Year 2024, despite being released on Fiscal Year 2025.

This is part of a multi-year effort to improve the overall firepower delivery capability of the force, as well as replace ageing or lost/damaged assets.

With this, the Philippine Army, through its Bids and Awards Committee 2 (PABAC-2), invited manufacturers and suppliers to submit a bid for the Carbine, 5.56mm (AR15/M4 Platform), Gas Piston Acquisition Project.

An M4-type rifle during tests. Photo credits to The Firearms Blog.

Project Summary:

Carbine, 5.56mm (AR15/M4 Platform), Gas Piston Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 30 December 2025

* Project Number: ORD PABAC2-061-24

* End User: Philippine Army

* Minimum Quantity: 8,234 units

* Modernization Phase: Philippine Army GAA Acquisition for 2024

* Project ABC: Php806,932,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: Philippine Army GAA Funds for 2024

* SARO Release: N/A

* Winning Proponent: Dasan Machineries Co. Ltd. (SK) through United Defense Manufacturing Corporation (PH)

* Product for Delivery: Dasan DSAR-15 5.56mm assault rifle

* Total Quantities to be Delivered: 15,626 units

* Contract Price: Php752,007,485.88

* Residual Difference (Savings): Php54,924,514.12

* First post by MaxDefense: 23 December 2025 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching  Hashtag:  #PACarbine556GasPiston2024Acquisition

* Status: Public tender was opened on 23 October 2025, SOBE was scheduled on 17 November 2025, moved to 24 November 2025. Notice of Award released in favour of South Korea's Dasan Machineries Co. Ltd. thorough its local representative United Defense Manufacturing Corp. on 11 December 2025, NTP and Contract signed on 17 December 2025.

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Overview:

The Philippine Army has continuously been acquiring small firearms including rifles in an annual basis, in some cases even more than once a year.

In this case, a requirement was made for 8,234 units, using the Philippine Army's Capital Outlay funds for Fiscal Year 2024.

Despite the funding coming from 2024, the project was only raised in 2025 which may mean that the Philippine Army was not able to use the funds back in 2024, but must now use it before the end of 2025 or risk losing the funds as they are required to return it back to the National Treasury.



Technical Requirements:

We noticed that the specifications used by the Philippine Marine Corps has a wider range in terms of dimensions, performance, and operating system compared to previous specifications used by the Philippine Army.

This means that the PMC is very open to any brand and design as long as it meets the requirements. 

Among those noted are the following:

Caliber: 5.56mm x 45mm NATO
Overall Length: maximum of 900mm with buttstock fully extended, maximum of 810 mm with buttstock fully retracted
Overall Weight: maximum of 4.0kg without magazine
Barrel: M4A1 type, 1:7 rifling twist, 366.76mm to 370.84mm (14.4 to 14.6 inches) long, medium contour with M203 cut-out, made of Cold Hammer Forged High Grade Chromium-Molybdenum-Vanadium Alloy Steel

Receiver Assembly Material Composition: 7075-T6 Aluminium Alloy
Rail Interface: MID STD 1913 
Operating System: Direct Gas Impingement System (DGIS)
Rate of Fire: 700 to 970 rounds per minute
Feeding: capable of accepting STANAG M16 30-round magazine

Major Accessories:
* 1 x 30-round STANAG magazines per rifle
* 1 x 3-point Tactical Sling per rifle

Potential Competitors:

Since the project is being acquired through public tender, it would be difficult to guess which offer would be accepted as public tender tends to be priced-based especially that most of the tenderers have been participating in similar projects before.

Based on the Supplemental Bid Bulletin No. 1 released on 11 November 2025, there are at least 4 interested tenderers, namely, United Defense Manufacturing Corporation (UDMC), Taurus Armas, Nashe Enterprises, and Armscor Global Defense Inc.

1. The RD4P rifle from Armscor Global Defense - this could be their first potential supply of the new rifle, only released in 2024, to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The rifles are built locally in Armscor's manufacturing facility in Marikina which fits the general overall preference to support the local arms industry.

The RD4P rifle from Armscor Global Defense. Photo credits to Insider.ph.

2. The SIGM400 or the SIG516G2 from SIG Sauer, both of which has already been sold to the Philippine Army in previous AR15-type rifle requirements. The SIG516G2 is the latest variant of the SIG516 short-stroke piston rifle, which is similar to the SIG716G2 7.62mm rifles also already in use with the Philippine Army.

The SIG516G2 (top) and the SIGM400 (above). Photo credits to SIG Sauer.

3. The DSAR15 and DSAR15P rifles from South Korea' Dasan Machineries, which have been competing with in similar projects in the past. It has found success in winning a tender for the Philippine Air Force, and is expected to participate in this project for the PMC.

The Dasan DSAR15P (top) and DSAR15. Photo credits to Dasan Machineries.

4. The Taurus T4 rifle from Brazil's Taurus Armas, which have also been sold in the Philippine Army, even becoming one of the M4-type rifles with the highest quantity in the PA's inventory after the Remington R4A3. 

The Taurus T4. Photo credits to Ricardo Torres.

It is expected that other suppliers may offer alternatives from other countries including other models from Israel, US and Europe, but it would be difficult to assess until we actually see a list of submitted tenders.

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18 December 2025:

The Notice of Award was released by the Philippine Army's Bids and Awards Committee through the Office of the Commanding General, in favour of the South Korea's Dasan Machineries Co. Ltd. through its Philippine representative United Defense Manufacturing Corp. last 11 December 2025.

It is expected that a Contract and Notice to Proceed might be made available in a few months.

Based on the MEAB Evaluation posted on 01 December 2025, Dasan Machineries Co. Ltd beat Taurus Armas S.A. and the Joint Venture of Nashe Enterprises and Mertsav Defense of Turkiye, ranking 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively. It appears that Armscor Global Defense did not submit a bid.

Dasan Machineries appears to have priced the lowest of the three submitted tenders, which allowed them to score the highest on Financing Rating. The South Korean arms maker also scored the highest on Technical Rating, after offering an additional 7,392 units of the same rifle, with committed deliveries totalling 15,626 units.

The MEAB evaluation, photo credits to Philippine Army.

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20 December 2025:

United Defense Manufacturing Corp. on behalf of Dasan Machineries Co. Ltd. received the Notice to Proceed and signed the Contract with the Department of National Defense on 16 December 2025, paving the way for the start of the project and confirmation of Dasan Machineries' win.

The total contract cost is Php752,007,485.88.

The contract also included the Schedule of Requirements which shows what Dasan Machineries would deliver as part of the contract.

Photo credits to Philippine Army.

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First edit and release: 30 December 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource

ORD-PABAC2-014-26 Medium Multi-Purpose Assault Weapon (MMAW) with Precision Guided Munition (PGM) Acquisition (2026) of the Philippine Army

The Philippine Army (PA) has raised a requirement for the acquisition of new Medium Multi-Purpose Assault Weapons (MMAW) with Precision Guided Munition (PGM) capabilities, which will be funded through the service's capital outlay funds from GAA for Fiscal Year 2026.

This was to provide the service with new anti-armor capabilities, which could also be used in shore and beach defense against enemy amphibious assault vehicles or landing crafts. 

This specific project is the second time that the Philippine Army is purchasing guided-missile MMAW systems, as an earlier one for 5 launchers was made in 2024 and awarded to South Korea's LIG Nex1.

The AT-+K Raybolt from LIG Nex1.

Project Summary:

Medium Multi-Purpose Assault Weapon with Precision Guided Munition (2026) Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 07 December 2025

* Project Number: ORD-PABAC2-014-26

* End User: Philippine Army 

* Quantity: 20 launchers, 40 missiles

* Modernization Phase: Philippine Army GAA Capital Outlay for FY2026

* Project ABC: Php450,000,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: Philippine Army GAA Capital Outlay Funds for FY2026

* SARO Release: N/A

* Winning Proponent: TBC

* Product for Delivery: TBC

* Contract Price: TBC

* Residual Difference (Savings):  TBC

* First post by MaxDefense: 05 December 2025

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PAMMAW2024Acquisition 

* Status: Public tender was opened on 04 December 2025, SOBE scheduled on 23 December 2025.

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Overview:

The Philippine Army has been pushing to acquire Medium Multi-Purpose Assault Weapons (MMAW) which was also included in the Horizon 2 phase priority acquisition.

Previously the requirement is for unguided systems, closely similar to light anti-tank weapons or recoilless rifles to replace existing old units.

But changes in priorities have pushed back the acquisition of MMAWs, with the existing RPG-7-type rocket propelled grenade launchers instead fitted with more powerful bunker busting thermobaric rounds for anti-bunker operations, as well as High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds for use against light armored vehicles.

With the changes in priorities, the project was among those that were reviewed by the Philippine Army in light of the War in Ukraine, and it was now decided to revise the requirement to now use anti-tank missile systems, with fire and forget capabilities and able to actually destroy main battle tanks.

It still remains to be seen if the Philippine Army will still acquire light anti-tank/anti-bunker weapons since there have been recent interest in Saab's M4 Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles.

But it now appears that acquisition of anti-tank missile systems will be made using annual Capital Outlay allocations to the Philippine Army instead of under the modernization program, no different from any small arms/infantry weapons.Z

An earlier acquisition of the same type of weapon was publicly tendered in 2024, with South Korea's LIG Nex1 winning the tender after meeting the technical specifications and financial and documentation requirements.

The Philippine Army already gained some baclground on the Javelin missile system as they were used during recent exercises. Photo xredits to DVIDS.

Technical Requirements:

Based on the technical specifications provided by the Philippine Army, the MMAWs shall have the following:

Range: at least 2,000 meters
Caliber: maximum of 130mm
Overall Weight: maximum of 30 kilograms including launch tube assembly, missile and battery coolant, and command /control/observation launch unit

Missile Length: between 900mm to 1,300mm

Seeker: Imaging Infrared (IIR) minimum

Guidance System: Infrared Homing, Fire and Forget

Warhead: Tandem or Dual Charge, HEAT

Attack mode: Top attack with minimum engagement range of 150m, Direct Attack with minimum engagement range of 65m

Hit Probability: at least 90%


These requirements are the same as the tender back in 2024.

Possible Options:

In the public tender back in 2024, the Philippine Army found that LIG Nex1 as the winning tenderer, offering their AT-1K Raybolt anti-tank missile system.

It is unclear if there were other competitors considering the specifications were very much favorable to the Korean anti-tank system.

Not much can be said at the moment since the project back in 2024 has not yet been delivered to the Philippine Army and may take time before they can actually test the system in Philippine conditions.

The Rafael Spike (Top) and LIG Nex1 Raybolt (above) are most likely to contend for this project. Photo credita to Rafael and LIG Nex1.

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First edit and release: 07 December 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource

Frigate (Full Complement) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy

The Philippine Navy is expected to order another batch of 2 frigates as part of its Re-Horizon 3 phase of modernization under the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

Formally, this would be the second time the Philippine Navy will be procuring a warship designated as frigate from the start, unlike the Miguel Malvar-class frigates acquired a few years ago which were originally being procured as frigates.

While the Philippine Navy and Department of National Defense calls this project the Frigate (Full Complement) Acquisition Project to separate itself from earlier similar projects, it can also be called the Frigate Phase 2 Acquisition Project.

This resource page will focus on this new effort to procure 2 new frigates that started official procurement phase in 2025.

The HDF-3500 design from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, believed to be the frontrunner in the Frigate (Full Complement) Acquisition Project. Photo credits to Frances Mangosing.

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Project Summary:

Frigate (Full Complement) (aka Frigate Phase 2) Acquisition Project:

Note: Latest edit as of 17 January 2026.

* End User: Philippine Navy (Offshore Combat Force)

* Quantity: 2 units including ILS and munitions

* Modernization Phase: Re-Horizon 3 Phase of RAFPMP,

* Project ABC: Php42,195,400,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government (G2G) with still unidentified country.

* Source of Funding: Multi-Year GAA Allocations for the Revised AFP Modernization Program starting FY2025

* SARO Release/s: TBA

* Winning Proponent: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries

* Product for Delivery: TBC if HDF-3200 or HDF-3500

* Contract Price: Php33,999,942,728.00

* Residual Amount: Php57,272.00

* First post by MaxDefense: 07 November 2023

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNFrigatePhase2Acquisition #PNFrigateFullComplementAcquisition 

* Status: The project is a follow-on to the Frigate Acquisition Project implemented under Horizon 1 phase, as the Philippine Navy requires more surface combatants as the service grows in size and capability and to replace retired ships. Project was part of Horizon 3 proposal, and was carried over to Re-Horizon 3 phase with a the same budget. Project Terms of Reference reportedly approved as of early 2025, with a Notice of Award released in favour of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries on 19 December 2025, followed immediately by Contract Signing and release of Notice to Proceed by 26 December 2025. Delivery expected to be completed by 2029.

The HDF-3200, used for the Miguel Malvar-class, could also be a potential design to be used for the Frigate (Full Complement) Acquisition Project. Photo credits to Philippine Navy.

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Overview:

As part of previous modernization plans of the Philippine Navy, there are requirements to acquire several major surface combatant ships to not just replace ageing assets, but also as part of plans to grow the fleet size and overall capabilities.

Under the original 1995 AFP Modernization Program under Republic Act 7898, there was a plan to have 3 new guided-missile frigates ordered and under construction by 2010. But this was not realized due to budget constraints and other factors.

Under the 2012 Revised AFP Modernization Program under Republic Act 10349, a new plan was made, which includes the "Desired Forces Mix" which included a requirement for 6 air-defense frigates and 12 anti-submarine corvettes, although a concrete plan to cover the entire program was not made, and instead a plan for the first 5 years covering the so-called "Horizon 1" phase from 2013 to 2017 was made.

The Desired Force Mix plan, which shows the need for 6 anti-air warfare frigates. Photo credits to original source.

Among them were the acquisition of 2 new frigates under the Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 1, which ultimately led to the awarding of the project to South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI, now HD Hyundai Heavy Industries) and the construction and commissioning of the Jose Rizal-class frigates of the Philippine Navy, which were based on HHI's HDF-2600 light frigate/corvette design.

As part of Horizon 3 phase from 2023 to 2027, a proposal to acquire 2 more frigates has been raised with a proposed budget of Php43,195,400,000.00. The new frigates, together with additional new and used corvettes, would allow the Philippine Navy to defend the sea gaps in the West Philippine Sea and Northern Luzon.

Several alternative proposals have been made for the Horizon 3 phase, but in all versions, the acquisition of 2 additional frigates have always been part of the priority.

With Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ordering a re-evaluation of the Horizon 3 phase which led to the formation and approval of the "Re-Horizon 3" phase by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., again the acquisition of two new frigates remained in the high priority, with the budget remaining the same at Php43,195,400,000.00.

Our parent page MaxDefense Philippines provided several insights on this project as well as information that appears to be unavailable from any official publications.


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Analysis on Potential Specifications:

While the Philippine Navy has not released the technical specifications for the project, it is highly anticipated that the Philippine Navy will mostly re-use those from the Corvette Acquisition Project, which ultimately led to the Miguel Malvar-class that were reclassified as frigates due to their size and capability.

This may include the following:

Weapons Suite:
* 1 x 76mm naval gun, most likely the Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid;
* 2 x 8-cell Vertical Launching System, which could be for MBDA VL-MICA NG or other systems;
* 2 x triple lightweight anti-submarine torpedo launchers, most likely from UK company SEA;
* 2 x quadruple anti-ship missile launchers, most likely the LIG Nex1 SSM-710K C-Star anti-ship missiles if ship awarded to HD HHI or Hanwha Ocean, otherwise the MBDA Exocet Block III;
* 1 x gun-based close-in weapon system, probably the Aselsan Gokdeniz 35mm CIWS

The Aselsan Gokdeniz CIWS might be specified, which is now allowed under the New Government Procurement Act if the item is already in service. Photo credits to Philippine Navy.

Sensor Suite:
* Combat Management System, will depend on who the winning shipbuilder will be;
* 3D AESA primary air/surface search radar;
* 2D secondary & navigation surface search radar;
* Fire Control Radar;
* Hull Mounted Sonar;
* Towed Array / Variable Depth Sonar;
* Radar and Communications Electronic Countermeasures or Electronic Support Measures (R-ECM/R-ESM & C-ECM/C-ESM);
* Electro-Optical/Infra-red (EO/IR) camera tracking system;

Propulsion System:
* Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) configuration

Flight Support:
* Helideck and hangar for 10-ton naval helicopter (ie. AW159 Wildcat and/or MH-60R Seahawk) and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Potential Offers:

Like before, the promotion of warships during defense exhibitions provides the best way to analyze what could be in offer to the Philippine Navy as well as to other navies in the world.

Among them is the Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) Exhibition 2024, which actually provided a hint on the potential acquisition of new frigates and corvettes under the Horizon 3 / Re-Horizon 3 phase.


HD Hyundai Heavy Industries - HDF-3500 or HDF-3200 frigate design:

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' booth actually included an infographic showing such hint, while also displaying a proposed HDF-3500 frigate design, which Naval News later on mentioned as HD HHI's proposal for the Horizon 3 phase frigate.

As the name suggests, the HDF-3500 is a 3,500-ton class frigate, which makes it larger than both the Jose Rizal-class (based on HDF-2600) and Miguel Malvar-class (based on HDF-3200). 

The scale model appears to show the potential weapons suite which include a 76mm naval gun that looks like the Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid naval gun, 2 x 8-cell Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) for surface-to-air missiles, 2 x quadruple anti-ship missile launchers, 2 x triple lightweight anti-submarine torpedo launchers, a gun-based close-in weapon system that looks like the Aselsan GOKDENIZ 35mm CIWS.

Sensors and antennas appear to be similar to that of the Miguel Malvar-class, although it will remain to be seen what the final fit-out would be proposed.

It is still also possible for HD HHI to offer the HDF-3200 design depending on the final outcome of specs and funding availability, considering the HDF-3200 is expected to be cheaper than its larger HDF-3500 stablemate.

The HDF-3500 proposal to the Philippine Navy. Photo screen-grabbed from Naval News' report.

Hanwha Ocean - Ocean 4300 frigate design;

While it was not explicitly said to be offered to the Philippine Navy, Hanwha Ocean displayed their Ocean 4300 frigate design to show that the are also capable of building surface warships like frigates and corvettes, despite their focus on offering submarines to the Philippine Navy.

The Hanwha Ocean 4300 frigate design. Photo screen-grabbed from Naval News.

It is possible for Hanwha Ocean to modify the design of the Ocean 4300 to meet the specifications and budget of the Philippine Navy's Frigate project, and there are already several possible options including the replacement of the 127mm gun to a 76mm gun, reducing the VLS cells from 32 to 16, replacing the sensors, among others.


Naval Group - FDI frigate design

There were earlier information that France's Naval Group initially offered their FDI frigate and the Gowind light frigate/corvette designs.

The FDI frigatem short for "Frégate de défense et d'intervention" or Intervention and Defense Frigate, is the French Navy's next generation general purpose frigate as the Amiral Ronarc'h-class, as well as exported to Greece as the Kimon-class.

But due to the working budget for the project, it appears that Naval Group was priced out of the project. According to sources, the Philippine Navy's budget is just enough to build a single fully-equipped FDI frigate.

A CGI of the FDI frigate that will enter French Navy service. Photo credits to Naval Group.

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First edit and release: 07 September 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource

ABNTB-PNBAC1-2025-01 Harbor Tugboat Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy

As part of plans to modernize its port and port handling facilities, the Philippine Navy plans to procure several new harbor tugboats to replace ageing assets while also improving its capabilities.

In line with this plan, the Philippine Navy raised a requirement to procure one new harbor tugboat under the ABNTB-PNBAC1-2025-01 Harbor Tugboat Acquisition Project.

This resource page will tackle this specific acquisition, although we expect similar projects to be raised in the near future.

The Philippine Navy's YT-027, a RAmparts 2700 harbor tugboat. Photo credits to Riviera.

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Project Summary:

ABNTB-PNBAC1-2025-01 Harbor Tugboat Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 31 August 2025.

* End User: Philippine Navy 

* Quantity: 1 unit

* Modernization Phase: Philippine Navy GAA Capital Outlay Funds for FY2025 

* Project ABC: Php487,302,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: Philippine Navy GAA Capital Outlay Funds for FY2025

* SARO Release/s: N/A

* Winning Proponent: TBA

* Product for Delivery: TBA

* Contract Price: TBA

* Residual Amount: TBA

* First post by MaxDefense: 31 August 2025 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNHarborTugboat2025Acquisition

* Status: The project is a follow-on to the earlier Tugboats Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy, to fulfill their target numbers of having at least 6 harbor tugboats by 2028. Tender was opened on 26 July 2025, and SOBE is scheduled on 01 August 2025, which was moved twice to 13 August 2025, then to 08 September 2025.

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Overview:

In its proposed plans to improve its overall capabilities by 2028, the Philippine Navy included the need for at least 6 new tugboats to replace ageing assets and to support new bases.

In 2021, it raised a requirement for a new Harbor Tugboat and a new Oceangoing Tugboat, in which local shipbuilder Josefa Slipway Inc. partnered with Canada's Robert Allan Ltd. was selected to build and deliver the boats.

The shipyard delivered the boats in 2024 and was inducted to the Philippine Navy on the same year. Feedback from the Philippine Navy was said to be positive, and now they are looking to pursue the acquisition of more units.

Since the project is not pursued under the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program, the plan is to procure them using capital outlay funds of the Philippine Navy as provided in annual GAA funding.

With the Philippine Navy planning to pursue several projects under this system for FY2025, it only raised the acquisition of one harbor tugboat, with more to follow in succeeding years.

The budget allocated for this project is surprisingly large compared to the budget back in 2021 for two tugboats, which brings us to the possibility that a larger tugboat might be requested.

With the project still being tendered, it remains to be seen what design will be pursued. But since the Philippine Navy already operates the RAmparts 2700 design, it is possible that the specifications provided in the project would closely follow those of the RAmparts 2700 design, although it is also possible for the specifications to require for a larger tugboat like the RAmparts 3000 design used in the Oceangoing Tugboat requirement.

The YT-027 (left) and AT-010 (right). The size difference between the RAmparts 2700 and RAmparts 3000 design can be seen here. Photo credits from Robert Allan Ltd.

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First edit and release: 31 August 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource

Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopters Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy

To improve its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities while providing its new combat warships with a proper aerial component, the Philippine Navy has requested for the acquisition of six new Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopters as part of the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program (RAFPMP)

This project discusses about the upcoming Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopters Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy, also known as the Anti-Submarine Helicopters Phase 2 Acquisition Project. This is to separate from an earlier project with the same/similar name.

An AW159 Wildcat naval helicopter of the Philippine Navy. 

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Project Summary:

Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter (aka Anti-Submarine Helicopter Phase 2) Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 26 August 2025.

* End User: Philippine Navy (Naval Air Wing)

* Quantity: 6 units including ILS and munitions

* Modernization Phase: Re-Horizon 3 Phase of RAFPMP,

* Project ABC: Php42,290,538,180.00

* Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government (G2G) with still unidentified country, based on Negotiated Inventory-Based Items clause of RA12009.

* Source of Funding: TBC

* SARO Release/s: TBA

* Winning Proponent: TBA

* Product for Delivery: TBA

* Contract Price: TBA

* Residual Amount: TBA

* First post by MaxDefense:

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNASWHelicopterPhase2Acquisition #PNASHPhase2Acquisition

* Status: The project is a follow-on to the Anti-Submarine Helicopter project implemented under Horizon 1 phase, as more surface combatants enter Philippine Navy service. Project was part of Horizon 3 proposal, and was carried over to Re-Horizon 3 phase with a slightly increased budget. Project Terms of Reference reportedly approved as of June 2025.

The Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk.

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Overview:

The Philippine Navy has been growing its naval capabilities including introducing more major surface combatants to its fleet since 2020. These surface combatants are capable of multi-domain combat including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), among others.

With this, there is also a growing need for additional naval helicopters capable of both ASW and ASuW operations, which will complement these ships.

The Anti-Submarine Helicopter will be capable of operating from Philippine Navy ships, and will be most likely assigned to the new Miguel Malvar-class frigates, and other upcoming surface combatants including the winning designs for the Frigate (Full Complement) and Corvette (Phase 2) Acquisition Projects that are being pursued under the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the RAFPMP.

The helicopters are expected to be able to deploy a dipping sonar, have capability to interpret data from dipping sonar and sonobuoys while also working together with other naval and air assets, and will be capable of firing anti-submarine torpedoes as well as launching air-to-surface missiles.

According to sources, the Philippine Navy actually received offers from Leonardo, which is currently offering the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat that the Philippine Navy already has in service, while Sikorsky Helicopters and Airbus NH Industries are offering their MH-60R Seahawk and NH90NFH naval helicopters, respectively.

The AW159 Wildcat has an advantage, being already in service with the Philippine Navy in terms of commonality and price. It was said to be the cheapest option among the 3 offers, and is already proven with the PN.

The MH-60R Seahawk is the naval variant of the S-70 Black Hawk, in which the Philippine Air Force is becoming one of the largest operators of the S-70i Black Hawk variant. The MH-60R is the latest iteration and features improved overall capability, avionics and weapons delivery.

Surprisingly, Airbus is said to be offering the NH Industries NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), instead of the AS565MBe Panther that it offered back in the Anti-Submarine Helicopter Acquisition Project back in 2014-2016. Compared to the Panther, the NH90 is larger and far more expensive, and is actually not a 100% Airbus product but more of a product from a larger conglomerate of European aircraft companies.

Surprisingly, Airbus was said to be offering the NH90 NFH instead of the Airbus AS565MBe Panther naval helicopter. Photo credits to German Navy and Airbus.

So far, the DND was said to have positioned itself on applying the Republic Act 12009's Negotiated 53.8.1 - Inventory Based Items, which means that the DND would be procuring a product that is already in the Philippine Navy's inventory.

This places the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat in a favorable position, moreso with Leonardo actively looking for new buyers of the type as the production is currently only catering to a small order by the Algerian Navy scheduled for delivery in a few years time.

But the selection of the AW159 Wildcat also places the Philippine Navy in a difficult position considering its ally the United States, as well as its Multilateral Defense partners like Australia and Japan, and other Strategic Partners like South Korea and India, are all users of the MH-60R or SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. 

This means that the Philippine Navy may lose out in terms of being in a common fleet of naval helicopters as its expected coalition partners, having disadvantage in sharing spare parts, getting maintenance and other support with countries using the Seahawk helicopter.

It would still be determined if Leonardo will indeed win this project, or a different interpretation can be made on 53.8.1 to allow MH-60R based on the AFP being a user of the S-70A and S-70i Black Hawk derivatives.

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10 July 2025:

In its latest Procurement Monitoring Report as of 1st Half of 2025, the Department of National Defense has confirmed that the mode of procurement of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter Acquisition Project (Phase 2) of the Philippine Navy will be through Negotiated 53.8.1 (Inventory-Based Item) as of 05 June 2025, and that the Terms of Reference of the project was approved on 24 June 2025.

This means that acquisition of additional ASW helicopters, which we previously reported to be 6 units with a budget of Php42,290,538,180.00 will most likely be awarded to Italian defense giant Leonardo for the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat naval helicopters.

The term "Inventory-Based Item" means that the DND will be procuring based on what the Philippine Navy already has in its inventory, rather than opening a public tender which will possibly push the Philippine Navy to acquire another helicopter model depending on the winning proponent. 

So far our parent page MaxDefense Philippines has not received word if the project can push through this year, although the report mentioned that it will be financed either by Multi-Year Contractual Authority (MYCA aka paid for in installment every year using yearly GAA funding allocations) or through Loan Financing which will make it faster for the DND to start the project.

PDR and MDP will investigate more if this project can push through this year since the Terms of Reference of the project, which is the basis of what will be the contract between the DND and the proponent, is already approved and the next process will be securing the funding and releasing a Notice of Award.

It is interesting that this project is ahead in terms of processing compared to the Frigate (Full Complement) aka Frigate Phase 2 Acquisition Project which the procurement process is yet to be approved and the terms of reference not yet approved, when sources confirmed that the DND is pushing for the Frigate's contract to be signed before yearend.

This means that there is a huge chance that the ASW Helicopter Phase 2 Acquisition may overtake the Frigate (Full Complement) and be contracted also this year. 

An AW159 Wildcat ASW helicopter of the Philippine Navy.

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First edit and release: 26 August 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource

2025-27 Caliber 5.56mm M4 Rifle with Optic Sights Acquisition Project of the Philippine Coast Guard

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has raised a requirement for the acquisition of new 5.56mm Assault Rifles as part of its acquisition for Fiscal Year 2025 although funding came from 2024.

This is part of a multi-year effort to improve the overall firepower of the service, as well as replace ageing or lost/damaged assets.

With this, the Philippine Coast Guard, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invited manufacturers and suppliers to submit a bid for the Caliber 5.56mm M4 Rifle with Optical Sight for the PCG.

Project Summary:

2025-027 Caliber 5.56mm M4 Rifle with Optical Sights Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 26 August 2025

* Project Number: IB No. 2025-027

* End User: Philippine Coast Guard 

* Quantity: 1,666 units

* Modernization Phase: Philippine Coast Guard GAA Acquisition for FY2024

* Project ABC: Php299,880,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: Philippine Army GAA Funds for FY2024

* SARO Release: N/A

* Winning Proponent: TBA

* Product for Delivery: TBA

* Contract Price: TBA

* Residual Difference (Savings): TBA

* First post by MaxDefense: 26 August 2025 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PCG556mmM4withOptics2025Acquisition 

* Status: Public tender was opened on 01 July 2025, with a scheduled submission and opening of bid envelopes (SOBE) scheduled on 28 July 2025. 

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Overview:

For the last few years, the Philippine Coast Guard has been investing more in various weapons including pistols, machine guns, sub machine guns, sniper rifles, grenade launchers and assault rifles as part of its modernization drive and acquired from Israel under the PCG's Firearms Acquisition Project.

As an example, its most recent acquisitions include 4,357 units of IWI Galil ACE 21N 5.56x45mm assault rifles with 8.5” barrels.

As the PCG requires more assault rifles to replace damaged or those too old to refurbish, it has now raised a requirement for another 1,666 units.

It still remains unknown if the acquisition would also be used to cover a possible increase in Coast Guard SOG personnel or just replace old units.

Further updates will be provided once they become available.

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First edit and release: 26 August 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource