Jacinto-class Patrol Vessel Upgrade Phase 1 - Weapon Systems Upgrade Project of the Philippine Navy

 The Philippine Navy (PN) has embarked on a three-phase upgrade works for its Jacinto-class patrol vessels (JCPV) as they have reached almost 20 years total of operation since it was first commissioned with the British Royal Navy (RN) in the early 1980s.

The Jacinto-class Patrol Vessel Upgrade Phase 1 to 3 was programmed to be among the major modernization projects of the Philippine Navy under the 1995 AFP  Modernization Program (AFPMP). The first project called the JCPV Upgrade Phase 1 - Combat Systems Upgrade Project, was considered the first major project of the PN under the new modernization program.

In this resource page, we focus only on the first phase of the entire JCPV Upgrade Program, with all three (3) ships of the class, the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35), BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) and BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) scheduled to undergo the upgrade program.

The BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) during a joint military exercise with the US Navy. The ship sport some of the equipment installed during the JCPV Upgrade Phase 1 including the Radamec EOTS, Sperry Marine radar, and MSI Defence 25mm gun. Photo taken from Wikipedia, originally from US Navy achieves.

Project Summary:

Jacinto-class Patrol Vessel (JCPV) Upgrade Phase 1 - Weapon Systems Upgrade Project:

Note: Edited as of 03 May 2020.

* End User: Philippine Navy (Philippine Fleet)

* Quantity: 3 ships

* Modernization Phase: Capability Upgrade Program of the AFP Modernization Program (RA 7898)

* Project ABC: Php990,650,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government (G2G) deal with the UK Ministry of Defence

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

* Winning Proponent: QinetiQ Ltd. (UK)

* Product for Delivery:
  - MSI Defence DS-25 Seahawk A1 RCWS mount with M242 25mm Bushmaster naval gun
  - Radamec 1500 Series 2500 Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS)
  - Sperry Marine BridgeMaster E Series Surface Search Radar
  - Raytheon Gyrocompass
  - GPS, Aenmometec, EM logs, etc.

* Contract Price: £10,400,000.00 (approx. Php974,905,630.00)

* Residual Difference (Savings): Php15,744,370.00

* First post by MaxDefense: TBC

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNJCPVP1Upgrade #PNJCPVPhase1Upgrade

* Status: Completed installation and integration works, and handed over all 3 ships of the class as of March 2006. PROJECT COMPLETED.

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Overview:

The Philippine Navy's most modern combat vessels in 2002 were the Jacinto-class patrol vessels (JCPV) which are formerly the Peacock-class patrol vessels of the British Royal Navy's Hong Kong Squadron. These ships were purchased for cheap and turned over to the Philippine Navy after the United Kingdom handed over Hong Kong back to the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Despite being its most modern assets, these ships were almost 20 years old by 2003, and would be needing modernization of its subsystems to allow it to perform a greater number and variety of missions effectively. This eventually became what was called the Jacinto-class Patrol Vessel Upgrade Project of the Philippine Navy, which is actually the first major modernization project of the brand service under the AFP Modernization Program.

The PN decided to spread the upgrade program over three phases, with the first one focusing on the ship's combat systems upgrade to allow the ship to perform for the next 10 to 15 years.

The Department of National Defense (DND) decided that the best course of action would be to undergo a Government-to-Government (G2G) deal with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD), which in turn proposed to have British defense company QinetiQ Ltd. to undertake the upgrade works.

A contract was signed in 24 June 2003, although the formal Notice to Proceed was only received by QinetiQ Ltd. by late 2003.

The upgrade works involved the installation of an advanced new weapon system consisting of a 25mm naval autocannon installed on a remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), overhaul its existing 76mm Oto Melara Compact naval gun, installation of modern navigation aids, fire control systems, and complete integration of all related systems.

The infographic above from QinetiQ discusses the scope of their works under the JCPV Upgrade Project Phase 1. Photo taken from and credited to Manokski's ORBAT - Hueybravo's website.

As subcontractors, QinetiQ has commissioned Keppel Shipyard in Batangas to be its local partner to conduct the repair and upgrade works, installation of the subsystems and all other works to be done in the Philippines.

QinetiQ has also commissioned the following subcontractors to supply the subsystems to be used for the project:

1. Oto Melara (Italy) - for the repair of the 76mm Oto Melara Compact naval gun,
2. Ultra Electronics (UK) - to supply fire control system equipment
3. Sperry Marine (USA) - to supply the navigation and surface search radar,
4. Raytheon (USA) - to supply navigation aid equipment
5. MSI (UK) - to supply the 25mm RCWS naval gun system

Another infographic from QinetiQ discussing the proposed programme of the project. Eventually QinetiQ was not able to follow this program due to circumstances. Photo taken from and credited to Manokski's ORBAT - Hueybravo's website, who is also one of our community member.

Manufacture, test and delivery of the needed subsystems required a reasonably long lead time, although Keppel Shipyard started preparing the ships for upgrade before the equipment were fully delivered.

Actual integration works started on the first ship by late 2004, with the DND reporting that delivery of subsystems required for the ship upgrade was 97% complete by December 2005. The entire Phase 1 Upgrade Project was completed and accepted by the Philippine Navy by March 2006.

The BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) at drydock during the upgrade works. Photo taken from and credited to Manokski's ORBAT - Hueybravo page.

In the end, the upgrade consisted of the following:

* Replacement of the existing navigation and search radar with the new Sperry Marine BridgeMaster E series radar system;
* Upgrade of the existing fire control system including installation of new Ultra Electronics Radamec 1500 Series 2500 Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS);
* Repair of the 76mm Oto Melara Compact naval gun, including supply of specific quantity of ammunition;
* Installation of new MSI Defence DS-25 Seahawk 25mm naval gun system, including integration to the ship's combat system;
* Replacement of old navigation aid systems and upgrade works
* Other minor works

The MSI Defence DS-25 Seahawk 25mm naval gun system on one of the Jacinto-class patrol vessel during a demonstration. Photo taken from and credited to DRP Forum page.

Due to lack of sufficient funding, it would take a few years more before the Philippine Navy was able to undertake the JCPV Upgrade Phase 2 - Marine Engineering Upgrade Project, and will only be able to cover 2 ships of the class, the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) and BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36). 

Even worse, the Phase 2 upgrade works of the third ship, BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) would only start in 2019 under the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program (RAFPMP) after several setbacks in planning, funding, and other issues.

Both Phase 2 projects would be tackled separately in their own resource pages.

Meanwhile, Phase 3 Upgrade Works will involve Combat Systems realignment works which was conducted under the Horizon 1 phase of the RAFPMP and completed by June 2019. This project was discussed separately in its own resource page.

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With all 3 ships of the Jacinto-class patrol vessels already delivered with the upgrades to the Philippine Navy, MaxDefense officially consider the Jacinto-class Patrol Vessel Upgrade (Phase 1) - Weapon Systems Upgrade Project of the Philippine Navy as COMPLETED.

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First posted and released on 03 May 2020

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