The Philippine Army (PA) said Monday, Feb. 17, that it is planning to buy a short-range air defense system as part of an overall strategy by the military to build its capability to defend the territory. 

Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commanding general of the Army, said they were already venturing into identifying platforms or capabilities that would enable them to project their force within the sovereignty of the country, particularly within the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), where China has been asserting its claims leading to tense confrontations.

“It’s already in our appropriations, meaning, the budget of the Philippine Army which was listed last year. The Army will acquire short-range air defense system and this is now in operation, meaning, the mechanism to acquire it is being undertaken,” Galido told reporters during a press briefing at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Galido did not specify a particular brand the Army is looking into as he denied a report that the Army is eyeing to buy an Indian-made missile system.

Last week, Reuters reported that India is poised to secure a $200 million defense contract with the AFP for the sale of the Indian-developed Akash short-range surface-to-air missile system.

“As to the brand, we haven’t identified a specific brand but we go for the platform and its capability. All of these are still being reviewed and requested,” Galido said.

The Army chief said the defense system they are planning to buy will depend on its ability to work together with the Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) platforms.

The Navy and (PN) and Air Force are at the forefront of the country's defense in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid the aggression being shown by China.

However, the military has since adopted the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) which requires all major service units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to shift their focus into addressing external threats from internal ones.

Last year, the PN has successfully acquired the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system from BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russian rocket design bureau NPO Mashinostroyeniya.

“The template would be based on the outcome of the first project that the Navy has ventured into, the BrahMos. We will take it from there. All of these are works in progress,” Galido noted.

In recent months, AFP chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. also expressed interest into buying the Typhon missile system developed by the United States but it is a mid-range capability (MRC).

Galido said the finalization of the procurement for the short-range air defense system will depend on the availability of funds.

“We do need all of these and we want all of these, however, we are always hindered by the financial capability,” the Army chief admitted.