1 1/4-ton Truck, Troop Carrier Light (Horizon 2) Acquisition Project of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

The General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has included the acquisition of new 1 1/4-ton light utility trucks as part of its procurement under the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

This trucks acquisition involves 215 units, which will be distributed to different AFP units and service branches as it continues to improve its mobility capabilities and replacing ageing assets.

These trucks are used as troop carriers and utility vehicles in both frontline and rear echelon units, as well as support units. In this case, no specific mention was made on what the trucks are for, which will be defined by the units that will receive it.

The Kia KM450 4x4 1 1/4-ton Light Utility Truck. Photo taken from Kia Military website.

Project Summary:

1 1/4-ton Truck, Troop Carrier Light (Horizon 2) Acquisition Project

Note: Edited as of 27 September 2019.

* End User: Armed Forces of the Philippines (multiple units)

* Quantity: 215 units

 * Modernization Phase: Horizon 2 Priority Project of RAFPMP

* Project ABC: Php677,250,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government (G2G) Procurement with the South Korea Trade Promotion Corporation (KOTRA)

* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund.

* SARO Release: SARO-BMB-D-17-0034295 dated 17 December 2018, released 19 December 2018

* Winning Proponent: KOTRA on behalf of Kia Motors

* Product for Delivery:
    - 215 units Kia KM450 4x4 1 1/4-ton Utility Trucks
    - 4 units Kia KM452 4x4 1 1/4-ton Shop Vans (freebie)

* Contract Price: Php677,247,850.00

* First post by MaxDefense: 19 December 2018

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag/s: #AFP114tonTruckAcquisition #AFPGHQTruckLightAcquisition

* Status: Delivery ongoing, 1st batch of around 100 units delivered September 2019. All delivered as of 2020. PROJECT COMPLETED.


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U P D A T E S:
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19 December 2018:

As posted on our community social media page:

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a new SARO (SARO-BMB-D-0034295) to support the funding of two projects under the Revised AFP Modernization Program. The SARO was approved only today, and is worth Php697,247,850.00, with the following details:

1. The AFP General Headquarters Truck, Troop Carrier Light 1 1/4-ton, which involves the acquisition of 215 units of light utility trucks. The project, under the Horizon 2 phase, has an ABC of Php677,250,000.00, although it is possible that the project is already for awarding to South Korea's KIA Motors with their KM-450 4x4 truck, as the SARO allocated a different amount at Php677,247,850.00.

2. The AFP General Headquarters C4ISTAR Lot 2 for the Upgrade of the Communications, Electronics, and Information System Service AFP (CEISSAFP) Training Center with an ABC and SARO allocation of Php20,000,000.00. This project is still part of the 2nd List of Horizon 1 phase. MaxDefense believes that the DND already released an ADM for this project since 2017 and would be undertaken via Public Bidding.

The release of funding for these projects is definitely good news, although we hope that the AFP GHQ BAC would act fast on these projects considering the government is said to be having funding problems on the way due to Congress' wasting too much time on federalism.

The Kia KM450 4x4 light utility truck. Photo taken from Kia Military website.

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10 March 2019:

As posted on our community social media page:

MaxDefense confirms that the Department of National Defense has awarded a contract to Korea Trade Promotion Corp. (KOTRA) worth Php677,247,850.00 for the supply and delivery of 215 units of KIA KM-450 1 1/4-ton 4x4 utility vehicles for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In addition, KOTRA-KIA Motors will also provide 4 units of KM-452 shop vans as freebie.

The deal is part of the Horizon 2 phase of the RAFPMP, and is the latest order of KIA KM-450 trucks.

The NOA was released in favor of KOTRA as early as 27 December 2018. Photo taken from DND website.

Rear view side of a KM452 Shop Van with its compartments opened. Photo taken from Kia Motor's video.

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25 September 2019:

As posted on our community social media page:

MaxDefense received confirmation that the first batch of deliveries of Kia Motors KM450 4x4 1 1/4-ton utility trucks for the Armed Forces of the Philippines arrived recently in the Philippines. Out of 215 units ordered (plus 4 KM-452 shop vans apparently promised by Kia as freebies) last December 2018, this first batch is said to be composed of around 100 units.

The AFP is expected to distribute these vehicles to AFP support units, and to the three major branch services.

These vehicles were acquired under the Truck, Troop Carrier (Light) Acquisition Project by General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines as part of the Horizon 2 phase Priority Projects.

No mention if the delivery included the shop vans, although MaxDefense was informed that the next delivery could happen in the a few months time.

Top photo shows the Kia KM452 Shop Van which Kia is providing as part of the deal, while bottom is some of the Kia KM450 utility vehicles modified by the AFP for special requirements, in this case as mobile ladders. Top photo taken from Kia Military, bottom photo credited to original source.

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28 October 2019:

MaxDefense got a photo of some of the newly delivered Kia KM450 1 1/2-ton trucks in Camp Aguinaldo.

Several of the vehicles were also seen travelling from Batangas to Manila, which makes sense as the vehicles were unloaded in the Batangas International port.

Note the black units which could be for special units. Credits to one of our community member for sharing this photo.

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12 April 2020:

Our parent page MaxDefense Philippines received confirmation that the delivery of Kia KM450 4x4 light trucks for the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been completed as of March 2020.

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With the KIA KM450 4x4 troop carrier light trucks already delivered and formally inducted with the Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps, MaxDefense and Philippine Defense Resource officially consider the Trucks 1 1/4-ton Troop Carrier Light Acquisition Project of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as COMPLETED.

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First posted 27 September 2019
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource

Fighter / Surface Attack Aircraft / LIFT Munitions Lot 1 - Short Range Air-to-Air Missile Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force

 As part of efforts to equip its fleet of KAI FA-50PH Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft with a basic ait-to-air missile capability, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has embarked on the acquisition of short-range infra-red guided air-to-air missiles under the Horizon 1 phase Priority Projects of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

The project, called the Fighter/Surface Attack Aircraft/Lead-in Fighter Trainer (F/SAA/LIFT) Munitions Acquisition Project Lot 1 - Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles, is among the four sub-projects allocated for the acquisition of munitions and countermeasures for the FA-50PH fleet.

The missiles could also be used by other incoming air assets of the PAF's Air Defense Command, and can even be used by the existing fleet of SIAI Marchetti AS-211 Warrior jet trainers with a few modifications required, as well as the future Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft that will be selected by the PAF.

The AIM-9 Sidewinder family was already leading on the PAF's evaluation early on even before procurement phase started. Credits to original source of photo.

Overview:

The PAF's current and only short-range air-to-air missile in its inventory was the Raytheon AIM-9B Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile acquired from the US in the late 1950s-early 1960s (depending on which sources or publications).

These are first-generation missiles that were first armed with the PAF's fleet of F-86F Sabre and F-86D Sabre Dog 1st generation jet-powered fighters, and later on with the F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-8H/P Crusader 2nd generation fighters.

Reports surfaced that the PAF undertook a modest upgrade of some of the remaining AIM-9B missiles in the late 1990s, and were armed by the PAF's F-5A/B Freedom Fighter light fighter and SIAI Marchetti AS-211 Warrior armed trainer jets, although this did not made the missile any better than the current models in service with other air forces.

With the introduction of the KAI FA-50PH Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft, the PAF is then pushed to equip them with a set of modest munitions including air-to-air and air-to-ground guided and unguided types. Evaluation was made by the PAF's Technical Working Group (TWG) for the F/SAA/LIFT Munitions Acquisition Project and found the AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder to be the best balance between capability and cost. It is not the latest in use by other air forces but it is a current variant that is used mostly by 4th generation fighters like the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.

Negotiations proceeded with American arms manufacturer Raytheon, with a Notice of Award (NOA) released in favor of Raytheon's German partnership Diehl Raytheon Missile Systeme GmbH. by mid-2017. This is because Germany's Diehl remains as the only AIM-9L/I-1 manufacturer as Raytheon itself has moved on to newer variants of the Sidewinder missile family including the modern AIM-9X off-boresight variant.

Post qualification inspections were conducted by the Department of National Defense's Bids and Awards Committee (DND-BAC) and PAF's TWG on the first week of July 2017, and a Contract was signed early August 2019. 

The Notice to Proceed (NTP) was handed over to Diehl Raytheon by 31 August 2017, signalling the start of production of the missiles for the PAF. Delivery was slated by 2019, although this was delayed due to several reasons.

Delivery was started in 2021, and was completed in 2022. 

Project Summary:

F/SAA/LIFT Munitions Lot 1 - Short Range Air-to-Air Missile Acquisition Project

Note: Edited as of 14 September 2019.

* End User: Philippine Air Force (Air Defense Command)

* Quantity: Classified

* Modernization Phase: Horizon 1 Phase Priority Project of RAFPMP

* Project ABC: Php1,016,798,639.00

* Acquisition Mode: Negotiated Procurement (Government-to-Government) deal with the US through US Foreign Military Sales (US FMS) program

* Source of Funding: GAA Funded

* SARO Release: SARO-BMB-D-17-0012038 dated 08 August 2017, released 09 August 2017

* Winning Proponent: Diehl Raytheon Missile Systeme GmbH (Germany)

* Product for Delivery:  "a few hundred" Raytheon-Diehl AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder IR-guided air-to-air missile. Exact quantity not provided due to OPSEC reasons.

* Contract Price: Php1,016,734,088.00

* First post by MaxDefense: 20 June 2015 

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PAFFSAALIFTMunitionsLot1Acquisition #PAFFA50MunitionsLot1Acquisition #PAFFA50SRAAMAcquisition

* Status: Project awarded in 2017. Fully delivered as of 2022, although operationalization appears to have been made either late 2022 or early 2023.  PROJECT COMPLETED.


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U P D A T E S:
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04 September 2017:

The SARO for the F/SAA/LIFT Munitions Acquisition Project Lot 1 was confirmed to be released as of 09 August 2017, with a total amount of Php1,016,734,088.00. The point that a SARO was already released means that a contract is well underway.

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13 June 2019:

The DND's spokesperson Arsenio Andolong reiterated that the PAF will be receiving AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for its FA-50PH fleet, and mentioned that the missiles will be delivered within 2019.

He also confirmed that all missiles are brand new fresh from the factory coming from Diehl Raytheon.

A ROKAF FA-50 with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Credits to original source of photo.

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12 September 2019:

One of our contributors has shared a photo to MaxDefense Philippines, of PAF personnel handling AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder missiles to arm a PAF FA-50PH Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft.

Upon checking with sources, it was confirmed that the said missiles are actually dummy rounds used for training purposes.

PAF personnel handling dummy AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder missiles. Photo shared to MaxDefense by one of our contributor.

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12 July 2020:

MaxDefense received word that another batch of missiles were delivered by Diehl Raytheon earlier this year.

But there seems to be a problem. Apparently Diehl Raytheon pushed for the delivery to be made without the batch testing done in Germany. Diehl Raytheon officials were confident that the testing would have a positive result.

It turns out that testing was done in the Philippines, and the overall result was a failure. Thus the Philippine Air Force cannot accept the batch of missiles delivered.

It still needs to be confirmed if the PAF was able to push back the delivered batch to Diehl Raytheon, or if another testing was conducted to further verify if the missiles can be declared a failure or pass.

Nonetheless, Diehl Raytheon confirmed that they will complete deliveries of the missiles within 2020.

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20 March 2023:

Despite deliveries of the AIM-9L/I-1 missiles as early as 2020, it will be noted that the Philippine Air Force only started flying their FA-50s with the missile starting in this year's Cope Thunder Philippines 2023 exercises earlier this month.

Previously FA-50s can only be seen with the AIM-9L/I-1 missiles on the ground, at times even seen with the older AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles that were first procured by the PAF in the mid 1950s. 

If not, mock-ups of the AIM-9L/I-1 were also used.

With this development, it can be said that the delivery of the AIM-9L/I-1 including its formal induction and operationalization were only made recently.

One of the PAF's FA-50PH Fighting Eagle seen with AIM-9L/I-1 missiles on its wingtips during Exercise Cope Thunder Philippines 2023. Photo credits to PAF.

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With the Diehl Defense AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder short-range IR air-to-air missile already delivered and formally operational with the Philippine Air Force, MaxDefense officially consider the Fighter/Surface Attack Aircraft / Lead-in Fighter Trainer Munitions Lot 1 - Short Range Air-to-Air Missile Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force as COMPLETED.

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First edit and release: 12 September 2019
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource