The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is hoping to buy mid-range missile systems as part of its modernization but military chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. stressed that the priority now is having additional ships and fighter jets to sustain the country’s patrol operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
General Romeo Brawner Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said this on Wednesday, Sept. 25, as he graced the 2024 Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) Exhibition at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
“We hope to [buy]. We want to. But like what I’ve said, during the first years, we would like to be foundational first,” Brawner told reporters in Filipino.
By being foundational, Brawner explained that the military is focusing on acquiring big-ticket projects for the Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippine Air Force (PAF), as well as enhancing the AFP’s cyber security capabilities for the “Re-horizon 3”, the third phase of the revised military modernization program which would run for 10 years.
He said in particular that he hopes for the AFP to acquire the Typhon mid-range missile system from the United States, a platform of which was deployed in northern Luzon in April for joint military exercises.
The Typhon missile launcher has not yet been pulled out by the US government since then as National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año said it would have to be decided by both Manila and Washington under the Mutual Defense Board – Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB).
“I don’t know the plan but if it were only up to me, if I were given a choice, I would like to have the Typhon here in the Philippines forever because we need it for our defense,” Brawner said.
Last week, China expressed serious concern over the Philippines’ decision to keep the Typhon missile launcher, saying it “gravely threatens regional countries' security.”
Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines’s acquisition of modern assets is part of its strategy to establish a credible defense posture to deter threats.
“Before other countries interfere with our, the creation of our credible defense posture, they should first stop their illegal activities. Get out of the West Philippine Sea, take away their ballistic capabilities, destroy their nuclear arsenal, before they interfere with our creating a credible deterrent,” he said.
‘Presence is name of game’
For the first year of the 10-year Re-horizon 3, Brawner said that the AFP would prioritize the acquisition of big-ticket items that will be very useful for them to comply with the requirements of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).
“We need more ships so that we can have effective presence in the West Philippine Sea. Presence is the name of the game. Whoever is in the area, controls it so we need to buy more ships, our platforms for maritime patrol like multi-role fighters,” he added.
‘ADAS ’24 not avenue for arms race’
The ADAS ’24 opened with the AFP’s modernization program taking the center stage.
It is poised to be the largest iteration in the history of the event, with over 250 exhibitors participating from 35 countries, 200 international delegates, and 15,000 visitors. It showcases the latest developments and key upgrades in capability for the navy, air force, and army.
Teodoro, however, clarified that the defense and security exhibit should not be seen by other countries as an avenue to trigger an arms race.
“That’s what China is saying but they are the ones that made the first move. For us, we are only defending our country. If they say that there is an arms race, they are the bigger country, they should be an example,” the defense chief said.
“They should destroy their nuclear arsenal, they should remove their ballistic capability, they should demolish their [base] in Mischief Reef and in other artificial islands they made. They should leave the West Philippine Sea,” he added.