WEAPON-PMCBAC-2025-02 Assault Rifle, 5.56mm with Optics Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy (Marines)

The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has raised a requirement for the acquisition of new 5.56mm Assault Rifles as part of its acquisition for Fiscal Year 2025.

This is part of a multi-year effort to improve the overall firepower delivery capability of the force, as well as replace ageing or lost/damaged assets.

With this, the Philippine Marine Corps, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invited manufacturers and suppliers to submit a bid for the Assault Rifle 5.56mm with Optics Acquisition Project (2025).

An M4-type rifle with optics, as used by the US Army.

Project Summary:

Assault Rifle, 5.56mm with Optics (2025) Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 22 February 2025

* Project Number: WEAPON-PMCBAC-2025-02

* End User: Philippine Navy (Philippine Marine Corps)

* Quantity: 1,420 units

* Modernization Phase: Philippine Navy GAA Acquisition for 2025

* Project ABC: Php150,150,863.94

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: Philippine Navy GAA Funds for 2025

* SARO Release: N/A

* Winning Proponent: TBA

* Product for Delivery: TBA

* Contract Price: TBA

* Residual Difference (Savings): TBA

* First post by MaxDefense: 22 February 2025 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching  Hashtag:  #PMCAssaultRifle5562025Acquisition 

* Status: Public tender was opened on 30 November 2024, SOBE was scheduled on 19 December 2024. Tender considered closed and no result posted yet as of 22 February 2025.

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Overview:

For the last few years, the Philippine Marine Corps have been investing more in replacing its ageing heavy infantry weapons including squad automatic weapons, machine guns, mortars and assault weapons as part of its modernization drive.

For small arms, its most recent acquisitions are mostly provided by the US Government's military assistance to the Philippines, although most of these went to the Marine Special Operations Group (MARSOG) rather than the standard marine units.

These are mostly 5.56mm M4/AR-15 type rifles made by American manufacturer Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) and are fitted for SpecOps requirements.

As the PMC requires more assault rifles to replace damaged or those lost in combat, it has now raised a requirement for 1,420 units.

It still remains unknown if the acquisition would also be used to cover a possible increase in Marine personnel although there has been no announcement of such plans.

Technical Requirements:

We noticed that the specifications used by the Philippine Marine Corps has a wider range in terms of dimensions, performance, and operating system compared to previous specifications used by the Philippine Army.

This means that the PMC is very open to any brand and design as long as it meets the requirements. 

Among those noted are the following:

Caliber: 5.56mm x 45mm NATO
Overall Length: maximum of 900mm with buttstock fully extended, maximum of 810 mm with buttstock fully retracted
Overall Weight: maximum of 3.6kg without magazine
Barrel: M4A1 type, 1:7 rifling twist, 366mm to 510mm (14.4 to 20 inches) long

Receiver Assembly Material Composition: 7075-T6 Aluminium Alloy
Rail Interface: MID STD 1913 
Operating System: Direct Gas Impingement System or Gas Piston System
Rate of Fire: 600 to 1,050 rounds per minute
Feeding: capable of accepting STANAG M16 30-round magazine

Major Accessories:
* 2 x 30-round STANAG magazines per rifle
* 1 x 3-point Tactical Sling per rifle
* 1 x Reflex Optic Sight per rifle
* 1 x Soft Rifle Case per rifle

Potential Competitors:

Since the project is being acquired through public tender, it would be difficult to guess which offer would be accepted as public tender tends to be priced-based especially that most of the tenderers have been participating in similar projects before.

But among those potentially may be considered are the following:

1. The RD4P rifle from Armscor Global Defense - this could be their first potential supply of the new rifle, only released in 2024, to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The rifles are built locally in Armscor's manufacturing facility in Marikina which fits the general overall preference to support the local arms industry.

The RD4P rifle from Armscor Global Defense. Photo credits to Insider.ph.

2. The SIGM400 or the SIG516G2 from SIG Sauer, both of which has already been sold to the Philippine Army in previous AR15-type rifle requirements. The SIG516G2 is the latest variant of the SIG516 short-stroke piston rifle, which is similar to the SIG716G2 7.62mm rifles also already in use with the Philippine Army.

The SIG516G2 (top) and the SIGM400 (above). Photo credits to SIG Sauer.

3. The DSAR15 and DSAR15P rifles from South Korea' Dasan Machineries, which have been competing with in similar projects in the past. It has found success in winning a tender for the Philippine Air Force, and is expected to participate in this project for the PMC.

The Dasan DSAR15P (top) and DSAR15. Photo credits to Dasan Machineries.

4. The Taurus T4 rifle from Brazil's Taurus Armas, which have also been sold in the Philippine Army, even becoming one of the M4-type rifles with the highest quantity in the PA's inventory after the Remington R4A3. 

The Taurus T4. Photo credits to Ricardo Torres.

It is expected that other suppliers may offer alternatives from other countries including other models from Israel, US and Europe, but it would be difficult to assess until we actually see a list of submitted tenders.

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First edit and release: 22 February 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource

AFP Cyber Systems Lot 9 - AFP Cloud System Acquisition Project of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

To further improve the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISTAR) and Cyber Defense capabilities, it has raised several projects to cover several capabilities as part of the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program (RAFPMP).

In this resource page, we focus of the Lot 9 which covers the acquisition of AFP Cloud System.

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Project Summary:

AFP Cyber Systems Lot 9 - AFP Cloud System Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 09 February 2025.

* End User: Armed Forces of the Philippines

* Quantity: 1 lot

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

* Project ABC: Php4,000,000,000.00 

* Acquisition Mode: Limited Source Bidding

* Source of Funding: TBC

* SARO Release/s: TBC

* Winning Proponent: TBC

* Product for Delivery: TBC

* Contract Price: TBC

* Residual Amount: TBC

* First post by MaxDefense: 17 February 2025 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #AFPCyberSystemsLot9Acquisition #AF0CyberSystemsCloudSystemsAcquisition

* Status: The project was included as part of the AFP Cyber Systems Acquisition Project under the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the RAFPMP. Which itself is an offshoot/continuation of the AFP C4ISTAR Systems which have been included since the Horizon 1 phase. Tender process is ongoing as of February 2025.

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Overview:

As the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) start to improve its Command and Control as well as its Cyber Security and Cyber Defense capabilities as part of its modernization efforts, it has pursued building its C4ISTAR and Cyber System.

Among those being acquired is a Cloud System, which will provide the AFP with overall improvement in capability and efficiency.

The cloud system can significantly enhance the capabilities of the AFP by providing robust, flexible, and scalable tools that can streamline operations, improve efficiency, and increase strategic effectiveness.

Here are some ways in which the cloud system can be useful to the AFP:

The cloud system can transform the AFP by enabling real-time communications, improving situational awareness, enhancing intelligence analysis, and streamlining logistical operations.

It can provide a secure, flexible, and cost-efficient way to manage military resources and operations.

The cloud also improves the interoperability between the AFP and its allied forces, particularly in joint training, humanitarian operations, or military missions.

By embracing cloud technologies, the AFP can better respond to modern threats, natural disasters, and complex military operations, ultimately enhancing its readiness and ability to defend the Philippines' territorial integrity in the face of regional challenges.

The European Defense Agency 's CLAUDIA study on cloud technology application in defense was able to determine its benefits including the development of a Software Analysis (SWAN) platform to demonstrate cloud based capabilities. Photo c/o EDA. 

The project is being procured through a Limited Source Bidding, wherein the AFP has selected the companies that it will invite to participate. 

Not much details have been provided due to the sensitivity of the project, and we also intend to keep it that way. 

Instead, we will provide information that can be made available publicly, or the AFP itself decides to be generally available.

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First edit and release: 17 February 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource

Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles Phase 2 Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy

As part of the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program (RAFPMP), the Philippine Navy raised a requirement for 10 new Fast Attack Interdiction Crafts with Missiles (FAIC-M) which would allow for defense and security of littorals including the tri-borders with Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as in the West Philippine Sea including the Kalayaan Island Group.

This project discusses about the upcoming Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missile Systems Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy, also known as the Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles (FAIC-M) Acquisition Project. This is to separate from an earlier project with the same/similar name.

The BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901), an Acero-class fast attack interdiction craft. Photo credits to the Philippine Navy.

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Project Summary:

Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles (FAIC-M) Phase 2 Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 02 February 2025.

* End User: Philippine Navy (Littoral Combat Force)

* Quantity: 10 units

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

* Project ABC: Php16,000,000,000.00 (divided into several lots)

* Acquisition Mode: TBC, most likely Government-to-Government with the Israeli Ministry of Defense

* Source of Funding: TBC

* SARO Release/s: TBC

* Winning Proponent: TBC

* Product for Delivery: TBC

* Contract Price: TBC

* Residual Amount: TBC

* First post by MaxDefense: 02 February 2025 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PNFAICMPhase2Acquisition

* Status: The project was added upon the reboot of Horizon 3 into Re-Horizon 3 program, to increase the number of fast attack interdiction crafts to increase overall capability and meet increased security threats. The Littoral Combat Force has raised this project for funding in FY2025 but failed to get included due to reduced Programmed Funding for the AFPMP Funds. To be determined if other means would be used to start implementing the project as soon as possible.

An Acero-class FAICM firing a Spike NLOS SSM during exercises. Photo credits to the Philippine Navy.

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Overview:

The Philippine Navy raised the requirement for a new fast patrol boat for the Littoral Combat Force, as it starts to wind down operations of its ageing fleet of Tomas Batilo-class (South Korean Chamsuri-class) fast attack crafts, which have all retired from active service since 2021.​

This resulted to the selection and acquisition of the Israeli-designed and made Shaldag Mk. V fast attack crafts from Israel Shipyards, which were acquired under the Philippine Navy’s Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles (FAIC-M) Acquisition Project as part of the 2nd List of Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.​

A total of nine boats were part of the Php10 billion deal, which included arming all boats with the Rafael Typhoon Mk.30C remote controlled weapon station mounting a 30mm Mk.44 Bushmaster II autocannon as well as two Mini Typhoon RCWS mounting a 12.7mm M2 heavy machine gun.​

Four of the boats will be equipped with the Rafael Typhoon MLS-NLOS missile launcher, which allows for the ​use of the Spike-NLOS short-range surface-to-surface missiles.

The Spike NLOS missile launched from a Typhoon MLS-NLOS launcher. Credits to photo's original source.

As the Littoral Combat Force’s existing assets reaches obsolescence, it was expected that the unit will request for more assets to make sure overall availability and capability are not compromised by extended servicing times and durations of existing assets.​

With this, the Littoral Combat Force have raised a requirement to acquire additional Fast Attack Interdiction Crafts, all of which are now requested to have short-range missile capabilities.​

Based on the Approved Re-Horizon 3 Phase Acquisition Plan signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2024, the Philippine Navy Littoral Combat Force is requesting for funding to acquire 10 additional Fast Attack Interdiction Crafts, including weapon systems like the Rafael Typhoon, Mini Typhoon and Typhoon MLS-NLOS RCWS, ammunition and spares, as well as potentially arming the 5 other FAICs delivered under the initial batch with the Typhoon MLS-NLOS missile launchers.

The proposed budget for the project is larger than the initial batch, with Php16 billion being allocated for 10 boats, compared to Php10 billion for 9 boats back in 2020. This is to cover price increases due to inflation, as well as the local construction of the boats in the Philippine Navy's Naval Shipyard in Cavite, plus the increased number of missile systems to be acquired.

It is expected that the contracts for the fast attack interdiction craft, the weapon systems and ammunition, and potentially for the system integration will be separate from each other.

Since the Philippine Navy already operates Israel Shipyard's Shaldag Mk. V fast patrol boats, known collectively in the PN as the Acero-class fast attack interdiction craft, it only makes sense for the same design to be used for the additional units. The same is true for the weapon systems.

As of this writing, the project has not been included for funding under the Programmed Funding under the AFP Modernization Program for Fiscal Year 2025. It is not known if the project is among those included in the Unprogrammed Funding though, which will depend  on availability f additional funding from the National Government.

There is also a possibility that the Philippine Navy may opt to start the project by using its Capital Expenditure (CapEx) funding embedded in their Annual Budget as provided by the GAA for FY2025, as this only requires the 10% initial funding to start. 

Two Acero-class FAICs of the Philippine Navy during deployment. Photo credits to Philippine Navy.

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First edit and release: 02 February 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource