Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy

As part of the new Re-Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Project, the Philippine Navy has embarked on the acquisition of new Landing Crafts - Utility (LCU) as part of its improvement to conduct amphibious operations, logistics, and support in peacetime emergencies and during conflict.

The new LCU aims to increase the reach of the new Landing Platform Docks that the Philippine Navy is expected to receive starting 2025, as these will form part of the LPD's complimenting asset.

One of the LCUs of the Tarlac-class LPD BRP Tarlac (LD-601). Photo credits to Indonesian sources.

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Project Summary:

Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 22 September 2024.

* End User: Philippine Navy (Sealift Amphibious Force)

* Quantity: 2 units

* Modernization Phase: Re-Horizon 3 Phase of RAFPMP,

* Project ABC: Php320,000,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: TBC

* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund, with allocations from Re-Horizon 3 phases of RAFPMP

* SARO Release/s: TBC

* Winning Proponent: TBC

* Product for Delivery: TBC

* Contract Price: TBC

* Residual Amount: TBC

* First post by MaxDefense: 20 September 2024

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNLCUAcquisition

* Status: The project was added upon the reboot of Horizon 3 into Re-Horizon 3 program, to complete the landing craft utility complement of the two new Landing Platform Docks ordered from Indonesia's PT PAL that only came with one LCU each. It was confirmed by the DND during a Congress session on budget for FY2025 that the project is planned to be funded under the Unprogrammed Allocations of the AFPMP for FY2025. 


Overview:

The Philippine Navy awarded a contract to build two new Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) under its Landing Dock Acquisition Project as part of the Horizon 2 Priority Phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program on June 2022.

One of the Philippine Navy's Tarlac-class LPD with one of its LCU operating from the well-deck. Photo credits to PT PAL.

The project's technical requirements originally includes the supply and delivery of four Landing Crafts Utility (LCU), which each LPD receiving two each.

This was also the case with the Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV) Acquisition Project which led to the delivery of the Tarlac-class LPD to the Philippine Navy. 

This means that the LCUs being acquired should be able to fit into the well-deck of the new LPD, and probably also on the well-deck of the existing Tarlac-class LPD. These are expected to be far smaller than the latest LCUs being acquired by other countries, including the locally-built Tagbanua-class of the Philippine Navy.

They are not meant to operate independently, and will form part of the LPD's amphibious capability.

Expect the size and design to be similar to those used by the Tarlac-class LPDs.

Two LCUs inside the well-deck of one of the PN's Tarlac-class LPD. Expect the LCUs to be similar in size as these, or probably even exactly the same for commonality. 

But due to cost and budget issues, the Philippine Navy revised the Landing Docks Acquisition Project's technical requirements. This was because none of the proponents can meet the requirements with the allocated budget of the Philippine Navy, which led to several failed biddings during its tender process.

The PN was not able to secure additional funding, and instead decided to conduct value engineering which led to reducing the technical requirements. The most logical change was to reduce the number of complementing Landing Crafts Utility from four to two, as to avoid making changes in the LPDs itself.

The PN awarded the Landing Docks Acquisition Project to Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL, with the contract only asking for two LCUs as per the changes in the technical requirements.

To fulfil the gap, it was decided that the Philippine Navy will procure the missing two LCUs separately, originally as part of the Horizon 3 Phase 1 - Horizon 2 Subsystems. The budget was set at Php320,000,000.00 for 2 units.

The reboot of the Horizon 3 procurement plan to the new Re-Horizon 3 program made changes to many of the plans, but the Landing Craft Utility has remained, with the same budget and the same quantity to be acquired.

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First edit and release: 22 September 2024
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource