AFP modernization

Fidel V. Ramos was the first president who enacted a law for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1995. Then in 2012 President Benigno Aquino III amended the law. It is divided into three horizons: The first was implemented from 2013 to 2017, the second from 2018 to 2023. Thanks to former president Rodrigo Duterte out of the 150 projects 54 are already completed. Now it is up to President Marcos to implement the third horizon. He newly addressed graduating army officer candidates who are beginning a one-year training in soldiery and leadership:

“Be assured, the government’s dedication to your advancement and welfare goes beyond providing modern equipment alone. We continue to prioritize retooling and retraining to arm you with intellectual fortitude, with tactical prowess and strategic acumen to thrive in the modern battlefield.”

Spokesman for the AFP Colonel Medel Aguilar said:

“We are ready with the list on what to acquire so that we will be able to develop our capabilities. We want to get more howitzers, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles which will actually develop our capability to defend our country from external aggression.”

In the list are American F-16 or Swedish Gripen multi-role fighter jets and more helicopters.

According to Surigao del Sur representative Johnny Pimentel, in the 2023 budget there is ?27.6 billion in programmed appropriations and ?17.6 billion in unprogrammed appropriations.

Unprogammed? Hmm, that is suspicious. On the other hand it is justified because from the Russo-Ukrainian war the generals gain new insights.

With the exception of the ship hull piercing BrahMos they all are aggressive weapons for fighting on land. The target must be to keep the Chinese from landing. Instead of the extremely-expensive fighter jets, we need surface-to-air missiles. Just last May a French-produced Mistral 3 was test fired. But that is by far not enough.

In the modern battlefield expensive jets are replaced by inexpensive drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles from the size of a saucer to an aircraft do all the jobs. Shoulder-fired manpads destroy tanks and flying objects. Remote-controlled sea drones with tons of explosives sink ships. A $1,000 drone can disable a multi-billion battle ship by releasing a bomb on the ships rudder. That is the way the mighty Bismarck was forced to turn in circles until the Royal Navy sank it.

If Ukrainians, Iranians, and Turks can build drones the Filipinos can build them too. To overtax the enemy air defense they are released in swarms, so we need millions of them.

We must not buy all abroad. All jobless workmen and engineers could find work and many OFWs could return home.

Maybe the generals also forget to order shovels and trench-digging machines. To fend off landing ships we must build bunkers and fortifications along the west coast and equip them with machine guns, surface-to-air missiles, and radar jammers.

Often in history a united people has repulsed a much-mightier military power. In the Philippines we have the Office of Civil Defense, an organization within the Department of National Defense. They train to help disaster victims. In view of the seriousness of the Chinese threat, they should also train for war. The youths are patriots. They love the Philippines. They hate the thought that invaders trample our sacred shore and that the shining field be dimmed by tyrant’s might.

I hope that the Reserve Officer Training Course --if ever it becomes obligatory again-- will not teach such dull-witted skills and drills as giving and executing commands on the spot and marching in formation. That kills their love and motivation. The time must be used profitably.

Flying drones and ascertaining coordinates makes sense. All Filipinos must know how to swim and how to rescue a person from drowning. Every senior high student should learn how to drive a car on the army’s expense. Of great importance in war is the transport of food, water, clothing, and all the tons of hardware to the front. Driving a car is not limited to only the manipulation of pedals, gear levers, and steering wheel. Deep knowledge of behavior in traffic and deep knowledge of the mechanics, trouble shooting and maintenance. It also requests responsibility and develops maturity. It would greatly reduce road rage and accidents. Many civilian lives could be saved if all drivers knew First Aid.

To round up my article on a positive note I refer to a Pulse Asia survey: 72 % of respondents said the government should strengthen the military capability of the Philippines, especially Navy, Coast Guard and the Air Force.