Posted on 08/29/2024 8:59:31 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines wants to upgrade its military with mid-range missiles and advanced fighter jets, two senior security officials said on Thursday, spending at least $33 billion as it modernises its defence in the face of growing regional tensions.
The military wants to acquire more cutting-edge weaponry, armed forces chief Romeo Brawner told reporters, hours after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro announced the Philippines was reviewing offers to buy more weapons.
"We are wanting to get more of the latest weapons systems. That includes the mid-range capability," Brawner told a joint media conference with U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo in the northern city of Baguio. Both the Philippines and ally the United States are preparing for what could be the largest joint military exercises next year, Paparo said, as security engagements between the two nations have increased to counter what they perceive as China's growing assertiveness.
In April, the United States deployed its intermediate range missile system in the northern Philippines during military drills, angering China which said its presence "brought huge risks of war into the region".
The missile, which remains in the Philippines, was not fired during the exercises, but was shipped to test the feasibility of transporting the 40-ton weapon system by air.
The Philippines has been embroiled in frequent run-ins at sea and on air with China in the South China Sea.
It plans to spend at least 1.894 trillion pesos ($33.74 billion) to modernise and boost its military's external defence capabilities, which could include buying the 40 jets, Teodoro earlier said during a congressional hearing on his department's budget.
He declined to the name the countries that had submitted tenders or the fighter jet model it plans to acquire,
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Some anti-ship missiles might be particularly useful.
A bit late wouldn’t you say?
The current fighter planes are antiquated. They’re so old they use the old bras of Imelda Marcos for skycaps.
It’s late, for sure, but they’re gonna have to punch back. I wouldn’t count on Uncle Sam as long as the dems are in charge.
Like Ukraine, what could go wrong?
NMESIS and a detachment of US Marines to train them.
I hadn’t heard of that before. I like just about anything that flies and goes boom.
Relatively new weapons system. It launches things that fly and goes boom to the tune of 120nm. Very portable.
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