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