Shore-Based Air Defense Missile System Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy

The Philippine Navy (PN) has embarked on the acquisition of the Shore-Based Air Defense Missile System (SBADMS) Acquisition Project  as part of the 2nd List of Horizon 2 phase projects of the Revised AFP Modernization Program (RAFPMP).

It was not originally among those approved in the Horizon 2 phase Priority Projects given in-principle approval by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte during the AFP Command Conference last June 2018. But the Philippine Navy found the importance of such project in support of their objectives and other acquisition projects that they are planning to implement. 

The Kongsberg Defense-Raytheon NASAMS system, which is among those offered to the Philippine Navy. Photo from Contact Magazine.

Project Summary:

Shore-Based Air Defense Missile System Acquisition Project

Note: Edited as of 15 December 2023.

* End User: Philippine Navy (unspecified unit/s)

* Quantity: TBA, most likely 3 batteries.

* Modernization Phase: 2nd List of Horizon 2 Phase of RAFPMP

* Project ABC: Php9,800,000,000.00
     
* Acquisition Mode: Most likely Government-to-Government deal.

* Source of Funding: TBA

* SARO Release: TBA

* Winning Proponent: TBA

* Product for Delivery: TBA

* Contract Price: TBA

* First post by MaxDefense: June 2019, as part of MaxDefense's List of PN Modernization Projects

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNSBADMSAcquisition

* Status: Pre-procurement phase ongoing. Senior Defense Leaders provided approval to proceed. Technical Working Group evaluation and selection process ongoing.  Moved to Horizon 3 phase of RAFPMP.

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Overview:

The Shore-Based Air Defense Missile System (SBADMS) acquisition project was intended to provide the Philippine Navy with an air defense capability to protect its assets on shore or on port. This includes naval or marine bases, and naval or marine shore-based assets like anti-ship missile batteries and Marine units.

The preferred system is a Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile system, mobile/self-propelled preferably on a wheeled platform rather than tracked. The choice on mobility requirements would allow the system to move faster and more efficiently over road networks, with partial off-road capability, without the need for tank transporters.

Range is said to be at least 40 kilometers, although a longer range is expected to have stronger preference.

Being medium-ranged, the Air Defense Missile System would enable to defend high value assets and units under a larger umbrella, with future short range missile systems possibly added later on to provide better coverage in all range brackets.

An air defense system protecting the Philippine Navy's main base at Sangley Point, Cavite also means partial protection of the southern part of Metro Manila and Manila Bay due to proximity.

The PN SBADMS would also be protecting future shore based anti-ship missile systems. Photo above for reference only, and credited to original poster.

MaxDefense’s initial information suggests that the budget allocated for the SBADMS acquisition project is around Php9.8 billion, which is more than the PAF’s own GBADS acquisition project. But this is still subject to changes considering the Philippine Navy is now having problems on getting enough funding for other projects like the Submarine Acquisition Project which is expected to be the most expensive naval project in Philippine history to date.

In comparison, the PAF GBADS only has a budget worth Php6.846 billion, or 30% less than that of the Philippine Navy's budget for SBADMS project.

It is highly possible that the PN SBADMS project would involve either more firing units, or more ammunition compared to the PAF's GBADS project to justify the Php3 billion difference in budget.


Options for Medium-Range Air Defense Missile System:

The Philippine Navy actually received the same offers made as the Philippine Air Force for their Ground-Based Air Defense System (GBADS) acquisition project, considering the requirements are almost similar for both the PAF GBADS and the PN’s SBADMS projects.

Among those that made their pitch or were included in the evaluations made by the Philippine Navy were:

* Rafael Advance Defense Systems with the SPYDER Air Defense System from Israel;
* Diehl Defence with the IRIS-T Surface Launched (SL) from Germany;
* LIGNex1 KM-SAM Cheolmae-II from South Korea;
* OKB TSP Buk-MB3K from Belarus;
* Almaz-Antey Buk M3 from Russia;
* Kongsberg Defense – Raytheon NASAMS from Norway;
* Roketsan HISAR-O from Turkey;
* Bharat Dynamics Akash Mk.1 or Mk.2 from India

 So far, the most likely in the shortlist are the offers from Rafael, LIGNex1, and Kongsberg Defense-Raytheon, based on feedbacks from sources that have knowledge on the project.

Among those most likely in the shortlist includes the Rafael SPYDER Air Defense System (top), and the LIGNex1 KM-SAM Cheolmae-2 Air Defense System (above). Photos credited to original sources.

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U P D A T E S:
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02 December 2019:

MaxDefense reeased a blog entry first discussing the Shore Based Air Defense Missile System acquisition project, including a background, the options, and the updates on the project as of writing. It can be accessed through the link provided below:

"Philippine Navy plans to acquire Shore Based Air Defense Missile System" - first posted 02 December 2019.

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15 December 2023:

The project was among those moved by the DND to the Horizon 3 phase of the RAFPMP.

Changes are expected in this project including budget and total requirements, and probably the technical specifications and terns of references as well.

PDR will edit this page as soon as new information becomes available.

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First post and edit: 14 December 2019
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource