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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U P D A T E S:
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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.

==============

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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U P D A T E S:
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First edit and release: 07 December 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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U P D A T E S:
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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

ORD-PABAC2-046-24 Light Machine Gun, 5.56mm Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army

The Philippine Army (PA) has raised a requirement for the acquisition of new 5.56mm Light Machine Guns using funding for their General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.

This was to fill in requirements to either replace existing units, and also replace lost and damaged/written off units.

With this, the Philippine Army, through its Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC2), invited manufacturers and suppliers of light machine guns to submit a bid for the Light Machine Gun, 5.56mm (2025) Acquisition Project. While the project was funded using 2024-sourced budget, this was opened for tender only in 2025.

Project Summary:

Squad Automatic Weapon (2025) Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 20 December 2025

* Project Number: ORD-PABAC2-046-24

* End User: Philippine Army (Special Operations Command)

* Quantity: 211 units

* Modernization Phase: Philippine Army GAA Acquisition for FY2024

* Project ABC: Php161,757,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: Philippine Army GAA Funds for FY2024

* SARO Release: N/A

* Winning Proponent: FN Herstal S.A.

* Product for Delivery: FN Herstal Minimi Mk.3 SF 5.56x45mm NATO light machine gun

* Contract Price: Php161,757,000.00

* Residual Difference (Savings): TBA

* First post by MaxDefense: 03 August 2025 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PA556mmLMG2025Acquisition 

* Status: Public tender was opened on 14 July 2025, with a scheduled submission and opening of bid envelopes (SOBE) scheduled on 05 August 2025. This was rescheduled to 19 August 2025 after a request from FN Herstal. NOA in favour of FN Herstal released on 11 December 2025, Contract and NTP signed 15 December 2025.

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Overview:

It has been years since the Philippine Army acquired new 5.56mm squad automatic weapons in significant numbers, as the last effort for such was made in the late 2000s when it acquired more the 6,500 brand new K3 light machine guns from S&T Daewoo of South Korea.

Prior to that, an earlier acquisition was made for more than 400 units of the FN Herstal Minimi squad automatic weapons.

Since then, it is expected that the Philippine Army already lost some of them to enemy action or ambushes or have been written off due to damage.

Based on the technical specifications, it is highly likely that these machine guns would be for the Special Operations units assigned with the AFP's Special Operations Command including the First Scout Ranger Regiment, Special Forces Regiment, and Light Reaction Regiment.

For this acquisition, the Philippine Army only plans to procure 211 units, although it now follows a new strategy in the procurement of firearms which is now being done using General Appropriations Act (GAA) yearly funding rather than relying on the AFP Modernization Program.

Thus, it is expected that acquisitions will be done in smaller numbers, but several procurements will be made over the next few years.

A Philippine Army squad automatic rifleman with a S&T Motiv K3 SAW. 

Technical Requirements:

The Philippine Army provided what it says is their standard technical specifications for 5.56mm light machine guns, with some of the important features listed below:

Firearm Specifications:
Caliber: 5.56mm x 45mm NATO
Barrel: quick changeable, made of high-grade alloy or stainless steel,1:7 rifling, 8in.  RH rifling twist, chrome lined chamber and bore, with folding carrying handle
Sights: Adjustable post type iron sights at front, adjustable open aperture-type iron sight on rear.
Gas Regulator: adjustable gas control

Rate of Fire: 700 to 1,000 rounds per minute

Overall Length: 950mm maximum

Overall Weight w/o Accessories: 7.85 kilograms maximum

Barrel Length: 330 - 365mm
Trigger Pull: 7.5 to 16 pounds pull weight, trigger pull free from creep
Butt stock: Retractable or collapsible, with minimum of 4 positions, with hydraulic recoil buffer type system, and non-slip butt plate

Receiver Assembly Material Composition: High-grade aluminum alloy and/or Carbon Alloy and/or Steel and/or Titanium  
Top Mount Rail: MIL STD 1913 Picatinny rail

Operating System: Gas-Operated, Long Stroke Piston
Firing Mode: minimum of Safe and Full Automatic 
Feeding: capable of accepting STANAG 4179  magazine, or disintegrating metallic link belt

Major Accessories:
* 2 x 30-round STANAG 4179 aluminum or polymer magazines per LMG
* 2 x 200-round linked capacity polymer or water resistant fabric ammunition bag
* 1 x 2-point Tactical Sling per LMG
* 1 x Spare Barrel per LMG


One of the major differences in the specifications for 5.56mm light machine guns of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Marine Corps is the operating system, as the Philippine Army specifies for a long stroke gas piston system, while the Philippine Marine Corps does not specify as long as it uses a gas operated system.

Benchmarking o the FN Minimi:

To discuss what we may expect, lets focus our dissecting the specifications to the most likely benchmark, which is the FN Herstal Minimi, specifically the current Mk.3 variant.

This is due to FN Herstal being among those that participated in the Pre-Tender Conference, as we as not asking for any changes in the technical specifications which means that they have a product that complies with it.

While FN Herstal also has the new Evolys Ultralight 5.56mm machine gun, it does not meet several requirements of the technical specifications, automatically removing it from the potential offerings.

A summary table on the FN Minimi 5.56 Mk3 series. Credits to FN Herstal.

FN Herstal currently has 5 variants of their Minimi Mk3, which includes the Standard variant and Tactical LB (Long Barrel) that uses the 465mm barrel length, and the Tactical SB (Short Barrel), SF (Special Forces) and Para which all have the shorter 379mm barrel length.

Based on barrel length, both the Standard and tactical LB variants do not meet the barrel length specs which limits it to between 330 to 365mm long.

Despite having the same barrel length, all 3 short-barrel Minimis have varying overall weights.

With the maximum weight set at 7.85 kilograms, only the Tactical SF and Para version meet the requirements while the Tactical SB variant is slightly overweight.

The final difference between the Tactical SF and Para will be on the butt stock. While both uses retractable designs, only the Tactical SF meets the requirement for a hydraulic recoil buffer system.

So it is most likely that FN Herstal will offer their Minimi Mk.3 Tactical SF variant for this requirement, which also gives us an idea that the machine guns are most likely for Special Operations units

Infographic on the Minimi 5.56mm Mk3 SF, credits to Ricardo Torres @ Pinterest.

Other Potential Offers:

While it is known that both FN Herstal and System Defense showed interest in the project, it is possible that more companies may show interest in supplying these requirements.

Being one of the world's major users of the S&T Motiv (now SNT Motiv) K3, the Philippine Army may also be looking at the company's new K15 5.56mm machine gun, which is aimed at replacing the K3 and fixing issues on the old model.

So far, SNT Motiv has not provided too many details on their K15, although it appears that it only has 2 models - a Standard variant with long barrel, and a Para variant with a shorter barrel. 

While the Para variant meets the weight, barrel and overall length requirements, it also probably suffering from the same issue as the Minimi Para with regards to the butt stock.

While the Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Negev NG5 SF meets many of the requirements, its gas operated short stroke gas piston fails to meet the requirements, as the technical specifications calls for a long stroke piston design,

Infographic on the IWI Negev NG5 SF, credits to Ricardo Torres @ Pinterest.

With the recent selection by the Philippine Marine Corps of the Mertsav Defense Systems MMG762, which is said to be a copy of the FN Herstal Minimi 7.62, it is also possible that Mertsav Defense Systems might be interested to participate in offering their MMG556, which is a copy of the Minimi 5.56.

Their MMG556C variant appears to be a copy of the Minimi 5.56 SF, also featuring a short barrel and long stroke gas piston system, while dimensions and weight are all within the technical specifications.

It is highly possible for it to compete against the Minimi, and may have a price advantage, although it remains to be seen if there is an agreement between FN Herstal and Mertsav Defense Systems to not compete with each other.

The Mersav MMG556C also meets the requirements of the Philippine Army. Photo credits to Mertsav Defense Systems.

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U P D A T E S:
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30 July 2025:

Two Supplemental Bid Bulletins was released on 29 July 2025, which extended the Submission and Opening of Bid Envelopes from 05 August 2025 to 19 August 2025.

Contract delivery duration was also extended from 300 calendar days to 460 calendar days

It appears that the request for both the extension of submission date and delivery date was made by Belgian firearms manufacturer FN Herstal SA.

There was a request from Turkish arms company System Defense for considering a gas operated short stroke operating system, in contrast to the technical specifications which says gas operated long stroke operating system. The request was denied since the technical specifications was already set and further changes will not be easy.

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16 December 2025:

The Philippine Army's Bids and Awards Committee through the office of the Commanding General, Philippine Army has released on 11 December 2025 a Notice of Award (NOA) for the project in favour of Belgian arms company FN Herstal S.A. for the supply of FN Minimi 5.56x45mm NATO light machine gun.

As previously stated, we believe FN Herstal offered their Mk. 3 Tactical SF variant based on the technical specifications provided in the tender.

The submitted price is Php161,757,000.00 which is the same as the project's ABC.

It would be noted that the signatory and representative of FN Herstal is Mr. Randolph Limjoco, who is the General Manager of Intrade Asia Pacific.

Intrade has been involved also in discussing issues between the Philippines and FN Herstal back during the Duterte administration when the Belgian regional government of Wallonia banned export of arms made from their region to the Philippines. FN Herstal itself is solely-owned by the Walloon Regional Government.

The Notice of Award, credits to the Philippine Army website.

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23 December 2025: 

The Notice to Proceed (NTP) for the project has been released on 15 December 2025, which shows the urgency in implementing this project before yearend.

Based on this date and the delivery deadline, FN Herstal has until March 2027 to complete deliveries and services related to the project.

The Notice to Proceed, credits to the Philippine Army website.

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First edit and release: 03 August 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource