GMRS-PMC-PNBAC2-2024-10 Jeep (4x4) and APC Wheeled Ambulance Rescue Acquisition of the Philippine Navy (Marines)

The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has released a new public tender for the acquisition of what appears to be light wheeled armored personnel carriers as part of its greater plan to provide more motorized protection for its Marines.

The project called Jeep (4x4) and APC Wheeled Ambulance/Rescue Acquisition Project under the project code GMRS-PMC-PNBAC2-2024-10, aims to provide an initial batch of light armored vehicles enough for a Marine Platoon

The Kovico KMPV from South Korea as displayed during the ADAS 2024 defense exhibition in Manila last September 2024. Photo credits to MDP community member who wish to remain anonymous.

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Project Summary:

Jeep (4x4) and APC Wheeled Ambulance/Rescue Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 28 November 2024.

* End User: Philippine Navy (Philippine Marine Corps)

* Quantity: 6 units armored personnel carriers, 1 unit armored ambulance

* Modernization Phase: Philippine Navy GAA Acquisition for 2024

* Project ABC: Php260,800,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: Philippine Navy GAA Acquisition for 2024

* SARO Release/s: N/A

* Winning Proponent: TBC, but Lowest Calculated Bidder is Kovico

* Product for Delivery: Kovico KMPV

* Contract Price: TBC

* Residual Amount: TBC

* First post by MaxDefense: 28 November 2024 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNLightAPCAcqusition, #PMCLightAPCAcquisition

* Status: The project was raised on 09 October 2024, with the SOBE scheduled on 05 November 2024. Prior to tendering, it was confirmed that some vehicles including the MILDEF HMLTV from Malaysia were tested in the Philippines to meet the requirements of the PMC and PA. Initial info from MaxDefense Philippines is that Kovico of South Korea was the lowest calculated bidder and will undergo or alresdy completed Post-Tender Inspections.

Overview:

As part of the Revised AFP Modernization Program, the Philippine Marine Corps through its mother service branch the Philippine Navy, raised a requirement for the acquisition of 60 Tactical Combat Vehicles as part of the Horizon 2 priority phase.

The plan was to provide enough light armored vehicles for the PMC to free up some of its heavier armored vehicles from duties like armed escort, base defense, or providing armored protection for motorized convoys.

But due to lack of funding and prioritization with the funds provided by the National Government, the project to acquire Tactical Combat Vehicles was not realized under the Horizon 2 phase from 2018 to 2022.

During the preparation of the Horizon 3, it was proposed to combine the PMC’s Tactical Combat Vehicle acquisition with the Philippine Army’s own Light Tactical Vehicle as well as the Philippine Air Force’s Tactical Combat Vehicle acquisitions, calling the entire project as the Joint Tactical Combat Vehicle Acquisition.

The MILDEF HMLTV from Malaysia, which is believed to have competed for the project. Photo credita to Impenetra Defense.

But this proposal failed to be included under the new Re-Horizon 3 procurement plan, which now only focuses on big ticket items (multi-billion pesos worth).

With the Joint Tactical Combat Vehicle acquisition project excluded from the Re-Horizon 3 procurement plan, each of the armed services are now faced with how to procure these armored vehicles.

In the case of the Philippine Navy, it was decided to use the services’ annual Capital Outlay funding. This applies not only for these Tactical Combat Vehicles, but also for other small-scale projects like firearms, personal protective equipment, night fighting systems, trucks and support vehicles, communication systems, among others.

Since procurement will now be using Capital Outlay allocations as part of the Philippine Navy’s annual budget, it now depends on the service as to how it will allocate its funding to procure what it needs.

In this case, the Philippine Navy decided to only procure 6 + 1 armored vehicles, while using the rest of its funding to procure other items including night fighting systems, drones, assault rifles and squad automatic weapons (which will be discussed separately in separate resource pages).

The Chaiseri First Win was also believed to be among those under consideration by the PMC.

Going back to this project, the acquisition under GMRS-PMC-PNBAC2-2024-10 calls for the acquisition of “Jeeps”, but looking at the technical specifications, it actually calls for the acquisition of six wheeled armored personnel carriers and one wheeled armored ambulance.

The decision to acquire a small number could be directly related to how the Philippine Navy wanted to allocate funding for this project, while at the same time using this opportunity to conduct a test buy to determine if the selected vehicle performs well and meets their expectations, before follow-on orders are made in the following years.

There is no guarantee that succeeding procurements that undergo public tender/bidding process will allow the same product will be procured, but the project’s technical requirements can be adjusted to give advantage to the same product acquired previously.

The Philippine Navy may also opt to procure through Direct Negotiations which is now allowed under provisions under the New Government Procurement Act under Republic Act 12009, to make sure that the Philippine Navy ends up acquiring the same product as before.

Previously the Philippine Marine Corps and Philippine Army received a handful of Kia KLTV Raycolt light tactical vehicles fron Kia, which was said to be given for free as gratitude for the thousands of light, medium and heavy trucks the Armed Forces of the Philippines procured from the South Korea automaker. But also for the services to evalute the vehicle for possible consideratiin for future LTV requirements.

While feedback on the vehicle was very good, the issue is on the doctrine as to the use of these LTVs. Both the PA and PMC was said to prefer larger vehicles that coukd carry more passengers than what the Kia KLTV coukd carry, similar to a small armored personnel carrier.

One of the Kia KLTV Raycolt tactical vehicles of the PMC. Photo credits to MDP community member who wish to remain anonymous.

Technical Specifications:

Based on the technical specifications, the vehicles are required to have:

General Requirements:

* Four-wheel drive, compact with light, short body overhangs for nimble all-terrain mobility

* Overall dimension of 6.4 meters minimum length with front winch, 2.38 meters minimum overall width, 3.08m minimum overall height with turret.

* Gross vehicle weight of at least 10 tonnes, and payload of at least 1.65 tonnes;

* Maximum road speed of 110 kilometers per hour, and Fording Depth of at least 1 meter deep:

* Space and Power allocation for integration of L3Harris RF-7800V-V51X 50-watt radio.

For APC variant:

* Can carry 8 fully-equipped passengers including the two-man crew;

* Have 8 gun ports

* Protection Level of at least STANAG 4569 Level 1 or equivalent, and Grenade and Mine Blast Protection of at least STANAG 4569 Level 1 against hand grenades, unexploded artillery, fragmenting submunitions and other small anti-personnel explosive devices detonated under the vehicle;

* To have turret system with STANAG 4569 Level 1 protection, manually operated, with a Universal Gun Mount for heavy machine gun, and a weapon cradle fitted for M240 series machine gun.

For Armored Ambulance variant:

* Protection Level of at least STANAG 4569 Level 2, Mine Protection of at least STANAG 4569 Level 2a, to survive a blast from a 6 kilogram Blast Anti-Tank Mine

* Space for 2 stretchers for seriously wounded patient, and foldable side benches to seat minor-wounded patients or other personnel:

* To have turret system with STANAG 4569 Level 1 protection, manually operated, with a Universal Gun Mount for heavy machine gun, and a weapon cradle fitted for M240 series machine gun.

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U P D A T E S:

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28 November 2024:

Our parent page MaxDefense Philippinea received word from industry sources that South Korea's Kovico was declared the lowest calculated bidder for the project, and is offering their KMPV armored vehicle.

The said vehicle was displayed by Kovico during the last ADAS 2024 defense exhibition in Manila last September 2024.

It remains to be seen if the company will pass the Post Tender Inspections which would allow them to secure the project.