Light Armor Systems Upgrade Joint Project of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force

The Philippine Navy (PN) on behalf of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), has combined its efforts with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to upgrade their fleet of Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando 4x4 armored vehicles, as well as V-300 6x6 armored vehicles of the PMC. Both major services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are experiencing difficulties in operating their wheeled armored vehicles due to ageing, and it was determined that upgrades are needed.

The resulting project is the Light Armor System Upgrade (LARSU) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force. 

Previously, the PMC already had a similar upgrade done to a few V-150 Commando 4x4 armored vehicles, with a contract awarded to India’s Larsen & Toubro. The results were said to be impressive enough for the PMC wanting to have more of their V-150s and V-300s undergo the same upgrade.

Surprisingly, the largest operator of V-150 armored vehicles, the Philippine Army, did not join such project considering their fleet was among the more aged in the AFP.

Cadillac Gage V-300 and V-150 wheeled armored vehicles of the PMC, which will need to undergo upgrade works. Photo taken from US DVIDS network.

Project Summary:

Light Armor Systems Upgrade (LARSU) Joint Project:

Note: Edited as of 22 October 2019.

* End User: Philippine Navy (Philippine Marine Corps) and Philippine Air Force (710th Special Operations Wing)

* Quantity: see "Product for Delivery" below.

* Modernization Phase: Horizon 2 Phase Priority Projects of RAFPMP

* Project ABC: Php711,938,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: BCDA Income Remittances

* SARO Release: SARO-BMB-D-19-0008070 dated 25 July 2019 worth
Php3,875,727,389.00, released on 26 July 2019.

* Winning Proponent: Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

* Product for Delivery: 

  - Mobility Upgrade for 7 V-150S (PMC) and 4 V-150 (PAF) armored vehicles;

  - 1-Meter Turret Upgrade for 27 V-150 and V-300 (PMC & PAF) armored vehicles

* Contract Price: Php711,542,889.00

* First post by MaxDefense: 2017

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNPAFLARSUJointProject

* Status: SARO released, Notice of Award (NOA) awarded to Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (India) on 06 August 2019. Contract signing and Notice to Proceed received by L&T by October 2019. The Philippine Marine Corps confirmed that the project has been completed and the armored vehicles handed-over to the Philippine Marine Corps and Philippine Air Force by Larsen & Toubro on 19 September 2023. PROJECT COMPLETED.

Overview:

Among those scheduled to be done are the following:

For the LARSU One Meter Turret Upgrade for 26 vehicles:

* Gunner's Control Mechanism,

* Gunner's Sight Camera (day & night capability);

* Gunner's Periscope refurbishing

* Repair of electrical systems

* Turret Basket

* 2 pairs of Smoke Grenade Launcher (per vehicle)

* Laser Range Finder

* Other peripherals including gun cradle, mount, gunner's seat, viewing blocks, light and spotlights, and spent cartridge system.

For LARSU Mobility Upgrade:

* Power Pack

* Cooling System

* Hull modifications

* Driver's controls

* Drive Shafts

* Wheel and Tire assembly

* Steering assembly

* Electrical systems

* Suspension and Brakes

* Fuel System

* Winch and differentials

All these include specific Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) packages.

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U P D A T E S:
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24 September 2018:

The Department of National Defense (DND) has released the Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the Light Armor System Upgrade (LARSU) joint project between the Philippine Navy (Marines) and Philippine Air Force's fleet of V-150 Commando 4x4 armored vehicles, with an Approved Budget of Contract (ABC) worth Php711,938,000.00 (see 1st photo). This is among the Horizon 2 Priority Projects approved by Pres. Duterte last June 2018 (see 2nd photo).

Pre-Bid Conference is scheduled on 02 October 2018, and Submission and Opening of Bid Envelopes (SOBE) is scheduled on 16 October 2018, depending if none of the potential bidders will request for adjustments on the date.

This isn't the first time the Philippine Marines did LARSU works on their V-150 fleet, although this appears to be a first that they did it together with the Philippine Air Force, whose 710th Special Operations Wing (710th SPOW) also operate some V-150 Commando 4x4 armored vehicles (see 4th photo). LARSU works normally include weapon system upgrade, as well as overhaul and maintenance works on the armored vehicle's hull, mechanical, electrical, and may also probably include improvement works.

The project is said to cover 1 lot, and did not mention the exact number of armored vehicles to be covered by the project.

The PAF would also have their V-150 Commandos refurbished under this project.

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05 January 2019:

MaxDefense received confirmation that, for the Joint Philippine Air Force - Philippine Navy Light Armor System Upgrade (LARSU) project for their fleet of Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando 4x4 armored vehicles, the lowest bidder is Indian company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Group. MaxDefense was informed that the Post Qualification Inspection has started late last year.

This isn't the first time for L&T to do such works for the AFP. During the 3rd phase of the old AFPMP, L&T also completed the LARSU upgrade for the Philippine Navy (Marines) involving upgrades for some of the service's V-150 Commando 4x4 armored vehicles.

A V-150 Commando armored vehicle of the PMC. Credits to original source of photo.

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29 July 2019:

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the Philippine Navy-Philippine Air Force's Light Armor Systems Upgrade (LARSU) Joint Project, together with 2 other projects under the Horizon 2 Phase Priority Projects worth a total of Php3,875,727,389.00.

The project would support the Notice of Award (NOA) expected to be released by the Department of National Defense (DND) soon to a still unconfirmed proponent. MaxDefense believes that India's Larsen & Toubro Ltd. may be the proponent based on their previous declaration as the lowest bidder when the project was first tendered publicly.

With this, MaxDefense expects the Contract Signing between the DND and the winning proponent to happen very soon, since the funding to support the project has now been made available by the Philippine government.

The SARO list for 2019 can be accessed from the DBM's website. A shortcut to the page can be accessed by clicking HERE.

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30 August 2019:

The Notice of Award (NOA) for the project was finally released on 06 August 2019 in favour of India’s Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), which they received on 13 August 2019.

The NOA was anticipated to be released in favour of Larsen & Toubro since the resolution to award the project to the Indian company was released as early as 07 January 2019. Even MaxDefense posted about this development back then since we were informed about the DND-BAC’s decision after Larsen & Toubro passed the Post Qualification Inspection in 2018.

According to MaxDefense sources, the reason why the NOA was only released this month was because of lack of funding due to delays in the approval of the 2019 national budget. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) was only able to release the funds on 26 July 2019!!

Just to remind our readers, the project involves the Mobility Upgrade of V-150s of the Philippine Marines, and 4 V-150s of the Philippine Air Force. Another 27 units of V-150 and V-300 armored vehicles from the PMC and PAF would undergo a turret upgrade to improve the vehicle’s ability to use its weapon systems.

A V-300 6x6 armored vehicle of the PMC.

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09 June 2023:

The Philippine Marine Corps conducted road testing of their V-150 and V-300 wheeled armored vehicles in Bulacan last 07 June 2023.

This appears to be part of the testing of these vehicles which are newly upgraded as part of the Light Armor System Upgrade (LARSU) Project of the Philippine Marine Corps and the Philippine Air Force, which was contracted to India's Larsen & Toubro under the Horizon 2 phase of RAFPMP.

Part of the upgrade is the LARSU Mobility Upgrade which includes works on the power pack, cooling system, drivers control, driveshafts, wheel and tire assembly, steering assembly, electrical systems, suspension and brakes and fuel system.

LARSU also includes a turret upgrades, which in the case of the V-300 may not yet be complete thus the turretless vehicles.

Photo credits to Philippine Star 

Photo credits to Philstar.

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19 September 2023:

The Light Armor System Upgrade Project of the Philippine Navy (Marines) and Philippine Air Force has been declared as completed during turn-over ceremonies held on 19 September 2023.

Indian company Larsen & Toubro Ltd., with support from the Government of India  handed over the vehicles to the end users, with DND Usec. Irineo Espino and Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambu S. Kumaran gracing the event.

It would be seen in the photos below that the paint scheme for the PMC and PAF armored vehicles are different to existing designs, with the PAF employing light grey scheme similar to the new uniforms of the PAF 710th Special Operations Wing. Meanwhile the PMC-bound vehicles also has a different pattern that has more brown color compared to the mostly green paint scheme used in PMC's other armored vehicles.

Photo credits to Philippine Marine Corps and Philippine Navy.

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With the upgrade V-150 and V-300 armored vehciles already delivered and accepted by the to the Philippine Navy (Marines) and the Philippine Air Force  as of 19 September 2021, MaxDefense and Philippine Defense Resource officially consider the Light Armor System Upgrade Joint Project of the Philippine Navy (MArines) and Philippine Air Force  as COMPLETED.

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First edit and release: 29 July 2019

Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource.