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| Upgraded M-113 that will arrive May and July (photo : Militaryphotos) |
PA spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato confirmed the report in a text message sent to State Run News Agency (PNA).
"Eighteen will be delivered by May 11 and the remaining 10 will handed over (by the supplier) on July 11," he added.
The M-113s will be supplied by Israeli defense manufacturer Elbit Systems Ltd. in a contract signed last June 22 with an allocated budget of Php882 million.
Fourteen of the M-113s will be configured as fire support vehicles, four as infantry fighting vehicles, six as armored personnel carriers, another four as armored recovery units.
Upgrades include installation of 25 mm unmanned turrets, 12.7 mm remote controlled weapon stations (RCWS) and fire control systems (FCS) for 90 mm turrets.
see: Philippine Army's M113 stocks (24) to get major upgrade from Elbit Systems of Israel for $19.7m
The PA operates around 343 AFVs (armored fighting vehicles) and APCs. Some 150 of these are the United Kingdom-built GKN "Simba" with the remaining AFVs consisting of US designed V-150 and V-200 APCs, M-113, Turkish made ACV-300s and British Scorpion CVRTs.
Around 85 percent of these AFVs are on green status (fully mission capable) while another 10 percent are on yellow status (undergoing repair) and five percent are on red (beyond repair).
These vehicles give the PA its armor capability and are organized into a 14-vehicle mechanized infantry companion for deployment with regular units.
Meanwhile, Senators Chiz Escudero and JV Ejercito will be holding a Senate Inquiry regarding the report that DND diverted funds intended for transportation expenses for 114 units of second hand M-113A2 donated by United States to purchasing upgraded M-113 units from Israel.
Department of National Defense (DND) declined to give comment on the issue and promised to clarify things out in the Senate Inquiry.
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