Fine-tuning of equipment for Second Horizon now ongoing— Lorenzana

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said they are now identifying possible equipment that the Philippine military can acquire in the Second Horizon of its Modernization Program. (Photo: Philippines Defense Forces Forum/Facebook)

MANILA—Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said they are now identifying possible equipment that the Philippine military can acquire in the Second Horizon of its Modernization Program.

“We are lining up (on) the Second Horizon, (which will start 2018 to 2022) and we are in the process in the process of identifying what equipment we need,” he added.

Some of the equipment Lorenzana wants included in the Second Horizon include fast crafts which is ideal for patrol and interdiction work off the southern Philippines which are threatened by Abu Sayyaf bandits and other lawless elements, drones and more helicopters to help troops conducting security operations in the field.

“The Chinese and the Russians are very eager to help us, in fact the chinese have given USD14 million (weapons) grant way back in December, so we gave them the list of all things,” Lorenzana disclosed.

The DND chief said there are no strings attached to this Chinese grant.

“This grant is for what anything we need, (we can) acquire a few things, if we can get fast boats, drones, or night-vision googles or sniper scope, it is very few. But they are also offering us an additional USD500 million worth of soft loans (for the acquisition of weapons),” he added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Modernization Program is divided into three horizons, with the first lasting from 2013 to 2017, the second from 2018 to 2022 and third 2023 to 2028.

The Second Horizon calls for the acquisition of equipment more attuned to external defense missions and has a programmed funding of around PHP100 billion.