Tank Gunnery Simulator Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army

The Department of National Defense (DND) has started the procurement phase of the Tank Gunnery Simulator Acquisition Project for the Philippine Army, which is a Horizon 2 phase Priority Project under the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

This is in line with the improvements being made on the capability of armor units, specifically with the Mechanized Infantry Division. 

With the Philippine Army expecting new light tanks coming in soon, they now have more reason to get a tank gunnery simulator to train future tank crew while enhancing their skills without the need to actually use the tanks to train.

An example of what appears to be a gunner station simulation system, mocking a tank turret. Photo taken from KMW website.

Project Summary:

Tank Gunnery Simulator Acquisition Project

Note: Edited as of 09 January 2022

* End User: Philippine Army (Armor Division)

* Quantity: 1 set plus associated items and services as part of package

* Modernization Phase: Horizon 2 Phase of RAFPMP

* Project ABC: Php36,200,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: GAA Funded

* SARO Release: TBA

* Winning Proponent: Wolfberry Asia Pte. Ltd - PT Indocertes Joint Venture 

* Product for Delivery: AVS ASCOD 2 Tank Gunnery Simulator

* Contract Price: Php36,100,000.00

* Difference between ABC and Contract Price: Php100,000.00

* Expected Project Completion: around February 2021, or 270 days from release of NTP

* First post by MaxDefense: 22 September 2018

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PATankGunnerySimAcquisition

* Status: First bid process failed, 2nd bid attempt successful. Project awarded to Wolfberry Asia Pte Ltd (Singapore) on 27 December 2019. Contract signing and Notice to Proceed released as of 30 April 2020. Delivered to the Philippine Army as of January 2022, scheduled for final inspection prior to acceptance within 1st Quarter 2022. The training system has already been accepted by the Philippine Army as of 1st quarter 2022. PROJECT COMPLETED.

============
U P D A T E S:
============

03 September 2019:

The DND released a new Supplemental Bid Bulletin (SBB) for the Tank Gunnery Simulator Acquisition Project dated 03 September 2019, answering queries made by at least two interested proponents.

The two companies were Singapore-based company Wolfberry Asia Pte. Ltd. and local-based Precision Munition Inc.

Both companies represent companies that supply and manufacture tank gunnery simulators. If MaxDefense sources are right, these could be the only two companies who are interested in the project, with each of them representing a South Korean company and another Asian company.

Based on the replies made by the DND, it was apparent that while they did not specifically mention the tank models despite a query on it, the Tank Simulator must be referenced to tanks with Oto Melara’s Turret System., and gunner and driver controls should appear like those in tanks with Oto Melara Turret System.

So far in all of MaxDefense’s post for more than a year now, we mentioned that only one company out of many offered tanks using Oto Melara’s turret. And that is Elbit Systems, which offered the GDELS ASCOD 2 Medium Main Battle Tank (MMBT) for the Tracked Vehicle, and the Czechoslovak Group Pandur 2 8x8 wheeled vehicle for the Philippine Army’s Light Tank Acquisition Project.

This confirmation from the DND’s SBB for the project further solidifies out earlier assessment that the Philippine Army’s Technical Working Group and the DND has selected Elbit Systems to be the winning supplier for the Light Tank Acquisition project, which would mean it is going to be a Government-to-Government (G2G) deal with Israel.

All we’re waiting for now is for the DND to formally announce the winner of the Light Tank Acquisition Project, as well as the bid opening for the Tank Gunnery Simulator Acquisition Project which has now been rescheduled to 17 September 2019.

So far, only Elbit has offered to use tanks using Oto Melara's Hitfact turret with 105mm gun. These would be installed on the GDELS ASCOD 2 MMBT and Czechoslovak Group Pandur 2 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle. Credits to original sources of photos.

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

08 February 2020:

The Department of National Defense (DND) has finally posted the Notice of Award (NOA) for the Tank Gunnery Simulator acquisition project in favor of Wolfberry Asia Pte Ltd based in Singapore, beating out local company Precision Munitions Inc.

The contract price is Php36,100,000.00, or Php100,000 less than the ABC.

It appears though that the DND website is having problems on the NOA's link, and the documents can't be accessed as well through the PhilGEPS website. But it is certain that the NOA was released on 27 December 2019.

MaxDefense can only assume that contract signing, as well as the release of Notice to Proceed could happen anytime this February 2020.

MaxDefense is not sure if Wolfberry Asia produce its own simulation product. It would be noted though that during ADAS 2018 defense exhibition in Manila last September 2018, Wolfberry Asia did display an M113 Driving Simulator system from Indonesian company PT IndoCertes that they were offering to the Philippine Army, but no tank gunnery simulator or similar system were showed back then.

So it is assumed that they could be sourcing the Tank Gunnery Simulator from a different manufacturer or technology provider like PT IndoCertes. Meanwhile, losing tenderer Precision Munitions was said to be representing a South Korean company.

Wolfberry was present in ADAS 2018 and displayed some of their products including an M113 armored vehicle driving simulator as shown above. Photos shared to MaxDefense by community member Marvin Mancias.

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

30 March 2020:

MaxDefense received confirmation that the Tank Gunnery Simulator Acquisition Project was put On Hold despite a Notice of Award already released in favour of a winning proponent.

The deal to proceed with the previously awarded proponent, Singapore-based Wolfberry Asia Pte Ltd was temporarily put on hold due to still unknown and unconfirmed reasons.

Wolfberry Asia offered an Indonesian-developed simulator system from PT IndoCertes.

But based on information provided by sources to MaxDefense, it is highly possible that there could be issues on the tank gunnery simulator being offered compared to the requirement. 

MaxDefense believes that it is not feasible for the Philippine Army to acquire the Tank Gunnery Simulator separately from the acquisition of Light Tanks, considering both projects are related to each other and should be compatible to really become effective.

The risks of having a Tank Gunnery Simulator that doesn’t suit the model of tank and turret/gun to be acquired is high if acquisition for both equipment are done separately, considering the Philippine Army has returned to re-evaluating its Light Tank requirements after deciding to make changes on the tank’s loading system, from manual to having an autoloader.

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

31 January 2021:

The Department of National Defense (DND) has released the Notice to Proceed (NTP) for the Tank Gunnery Simulator Acquisition Project, in favour of the Joint Venture of Wolfberry Asia Pte Ltd. and PT Indocertes, with the document dated 30 April 2020.

Wolfberry Asia is based in Singapore, while PT Indocertes is an Indonesian simulator manufacturer.

Copy of the NTP for Tank Gunnery Simulator project.

Since the NTP was dated as early as April 2020, it is expected that they are to deliver the Tank Gunnery Simulator within 270 calendar days, or around 9 months from release of NTP. That is around January-February 2021.

So far there is no indication that the delivery requirement was changed, although COVID-19 pandemic issues might be a reason for potential delivery delays. And based on previous decisions made by the DND, it is possible for the DND to allow delays.

A few weeks ago, MaxDefense Philippines posted a photo of what appears to be a simulator for the ASCOD 2 “tank” made by AVSimulators based in Bandung and taken only last December 2020. 

This is said to be a photo taken from an ASCOD 2 tank simulator made by Indonesian company AVS. Photo credits to original source.

Based on AVS’ website, their products appear to be very much similar to those of PT Indocertes so its possible that AVS and PT Indocertes are one and the same.

The simulator is potentially bound for the Philippine Army considering there are only a few users of the ASCOD series of tracked armored vehicles, and only the Philippines has the tank version coming soon.

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

09 January 2022:

The Philippine Army has received the Tank Gunnery Simulator it acquired from Wolfberry Asia -  PT Indocertes Joint Venture, which is part of the Horizon 2 phase priority project under RAFPMP.

PT Indocertes of Indonesia built the system.

From the photos, it appears that the system is still being set-up and prepared for final testing and inspection by the Philippine Army's Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC), and is still up for acceptance and induction at a later date.

All photos credited to Jessieden Ali Martinez.

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

04 February 2023:

Our parent page MaxDefense Philippines received confirmation from Philippine Army sources that while the tank gunnery simulator system has been delivered, it has not been placed permanently yet, although the simulator system itself has already been accepted by the Philippine Army and is already in use.

Since the system is not yet permanently installed, personnel from PT Indocertes may still need to come back once installation on its new housing facility gets completed.

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

10 March 2024:

A video was posted showing the Tank Gunnery Simulator, also called the Full Motion Tank Simulator being used during training by the Philippine Army, which means that the system was accepted and is already in use.

It would be remembered that the system was delivered in early 2022, and was expected to have been in service since at least March or April 2022.

Photo taken from video posted by Philippine Armed Forces Unofficial II.

The single-seater capsule is for the driver, and the 2-seater capsule is for the gunner and commander.

Sources confirmed that the simulator is being used for tank crew training for those crewing the Sabrah light tank as well as the M113A2 fire support vehicles, which are also being used as "tanks" for now.

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

With the Tank Gunnery Simulator system already delivered and formally accepted by the Philippine Army, MaxDefense and Philippine Defense Resource officially consider the Tank Gunnery Simulator Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army as COMPLETED.

===============
x x x x x x x x x x x 

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

First edit and release: 07 August 2019
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource