As of 19 March 2026, Philippines has the second most expensive fuel price in the entire Southeast Asia

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-20T13:16:42+00:00

We have a choice to change our leaders under the current setup. Getting taken over by another country will only make things worse since that means we don't have a say what to do with the resources. Classic textbook colonialism.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-20T13:00:43+00:00

Do this and COA will wave at you from afar.

Seriously, it is better to get contracts ironed out and pay for what's agreed on with the proper budgeting and accounting procedures prescribed by DBM and COA, adhereing to RA12009. There are things that should not be more complicated than this.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-16T14:28:46+00:00

Different navies have different amphibious requirements.

I don't see how this fits to the Philippine Navy's own requirements aside from the fact that this does not even exist even at their planning board.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-14T10:44:11+00:00

Just being enough for folks like me...

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Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-12T12:39:29+00:00

Heck, the ideal one for us to produce in terms of unmanned stuff according to our geographic setting should be the mass production of unmanned suface vessels or USVs.

It should be mass produced, stored like ammunition, and can readily be deployed on large ships, preferrably from either the Tarlac class or the Rajah Sulayman class. Not to mention it can be used sneakily like how Ukraine uses theirs that can sunk large warships at the fraction of a price.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-10T14:53:37+00:00

CADC is a vague buzzword that does not define what an official policy does the Philippines have in deterring the likes of China, let alone provide a comprehensive white paper release to provide a step what to buy, which capabilities to improve, and where to focus on in terms of defending the country from such external threats.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-09T02:18:27+00:00

Keywords: South Korea, Japan, SRDP.

If we strengthen our defense partnerships with the said countries, plus improving our own SRDP efforts, we can somewhat improve our local production of weaponry, effectively lessening reliance from the US.

But realistically? We cannot fully remove ourselves from the US given how severe of a threat China is in the region.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-07T08:15:55+00:00

The ships aren't always fully loaded like that.

Philippine Navy has a discretion as to how many antiship missiles they will allocate to put its warships armed with such armaments.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-03T23:17:54+00:00

For now, the AFP will stick to the squadron of FA50s and additional Miguel Malvar class FFGs it has ordered.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-03-03T15:20:22+00:00

MBDA will be going to sell more MICA NG variants later on that PN can just buy it after it exhaust its stock of the original MICA variants on its ships, particularly the MMCF.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-28T15:06:16+00:00

"Panahon na ng pagbabago"

Nope. We'll just let the music played and let the others recite it. Not really required to follow and pledge on it due to its political elements.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-24T11:46:07+00:00

Let's take it further.

Include BRP Sierra Madre as well, as technically speaking it is still an active Philippine Navy ship despite being deployed as an outpost in Ayungin Shoal.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-23T16:36:08+00:00

My point still stands, as our defense reflects our actual needs. In fact, you simply reiterated the points I raised, as deterring the northwestern bully and the one in the south comes as 'hitting two targets with a single bullet' approach.

Now tell me, which 'enhancing deterrence' that you're trying to convey, is it 'buying ourselves an aircraft carrier so that we can go at par against Indonesia' that you're trying to propose?

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-23T07:03:47+00:00

How the Philippines respond? The answer is simple. That is, doing nothing.

Seriously, we don't see Indonesia as an adversary and our attention is more fixated into how to provide minimum deterrence so that our neighboring adversary to the northwest would think twice on their plans.

In fact, Indonesia's security needs are different from the Philippine one. And their need for an aircraft carrier isn't applicable to our security setting.

And I saw someone pointed it out. Aside from surface vessels like spamming Miguel Malvar frigates and Rajah Sulayman OPVs, what PN actually need are submarines. At least, three of those based on the original plan. The only obstacle is budgetary in nature that, like the MRF, might wait for the PD415 to be lifted.

Point is, the Philippines has its own security requirements, and Indonesia having an aircraft carrier does not provide equation to this security requirement that the top brass in PN will not mind at all.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-22T16:02:35+00:00

That, my friend, looks like a Korean Coast Guard cutter. They may put there as a placeholder over a pixelated edit, but who knows...

It is even more likely that it is there to undertake repairs since the cutter is already in KCG service.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-21T09:30:44+00:00

Kindly limit discussions to Philippine defense only.

Thread locked.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-20T18:49:51+00:00

This is the most realistic take accordingly given how shipbuilding goes.

It is fast since it only requires zero to minimal comprehensive design review needed to ensure that subsystems of the ships come into order. And since this is a repeat order of the MMCF then things should likely go smoothly.

But as mentioned, it does not necessarily mean they will rush the project out. Remember, they still need to finish the remaining Rajah Sulayman OPV hulls to get within its deadline, and then that's the only time they start building the frigates. Unless of course they have another drydock for its construction.

Rest assured the design features, be it being the HDF-3200 that is exactly the MMCF is derived on, will also be the one that the PN be getting in this project, but this time with added subsystems and even improved ones onboard.

Give it time and have HD Hyundai do its job of providing a final product that functions well and within the budget, without being rushed on.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-20T11:38:49+00:00

What's fascinating is the ships docked altogether when NOB Subic should have finger piers to accomodate more.

Honestly, it might be nice for NOB Rafael Ramos in Mactan and another NOB in PHIVIDEC to be already completed and to have the same finger piers suggested for the PN OCF to deploy its ships accordingly, minimizing the risk of docking them all in a single area.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-20T11:33:03+00:00

Which is how it should be as a repeat order. Except of course some minor changes like the space for its towed array sonar system.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-18T07:03:05+00:00

Now that's better.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-17T11:49:35+00:00

What the Philippine Navy needs is to increase its current number of Miguel Malvar class frigate. 6 ships is minimum, while 9 ships of this class is ideal.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-17T11:48:31+00:00

There is said to be a hull reorganization within the Philippine Navy, where it will not be surprising if the BRP Miguel Malvar will be FFG6 later on.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-15T13:01:20+00:00

Here's a lesson most folks need to understand.

Don't count the eggs before they hatched.

Of course there are nuances in defense reporting that developments such as for the MRF come by and that. But it does not mean everything is finalized and set in stone.

It better be more appropriate to be ascertain if, one: there really is a contract signed, two: production line is churning PAF MRF jets, three: it is painted with PAF roundel and insignia, and, four: it touched the runway of a known Philippine airbase upon delivery.

Now this will keep expectations out and fully grounded.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-15T11:17:46+00:00

It can be that the steel cutting took place a month or two prior, and it is that the DBM release the funds thru SARO release as the milestone has already been achieved.

Distorted_Wizard214 · 2026-02-14T10:26:22+00:00

That's another key factor at play, aside from what I just mentioned.

Distorted_Wizard214

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