Defense of the Republic of the Philippines

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/pakistan-army-inducts-first-batch-of-al-khalid-i-mbts

31 July 2020
Pakistan Army inducts first batch of Al-Khalid-I MBTs

In a statement issued that same day, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, said that several units of the tank, which is an improved variant of the in-service Al-Khalid MBT, were handed over to the PA’s Armoured Corps. The video shows at least 20 Al-Khalid-Is lined up at the ceremony.

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The Al-Khalid-I is part of a joint venture between Pakistan, China, and Ukraine, and is believed to be intended to replace approximately 300 Type 85 and 320 T-80UD MBTs. Compared with the Al-Khalid, the first units of which entered service in 2001, the upgrade is comprehensive and appears to be angled at making the design competitive with the Indian Army’s fleet of T-90S MBTs.

A screengrab from video footage provided by ISPR of the handover ceremony of the first batch of Al-Khalid-I MBTs to the PA on 28 July. (ISPR)

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korea-to-develop-unmanned-technologies-for-k1-mbt-and-k9-sphs

11 August 2020
South Korea to develop unmanned technologies for K1 MBT and K9 SPHs

Key lines of research include a common remote-control architecture and remote driving as well as autonomous navigation technology. The agency will also explore mission systems that address the unique characteristics of both MBT and SPH operations, such as mobile target remote aiming and tracking technology for the former.

Concept art depicting a possible configuration for an unmanned K1 main battle tank. (KIMST)

Indonesia signs preamble contract for construction of two Iver Huitfedlt-class frigates | Navy Recognition - 02 July 2020

The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has signed a preliminary contract with the representative of Danish Odense Maritime Technology to supply two Iver Huitfeldt class frigates within five years at a total cost of $ 720 million.

OMT has promoted their Ivan Huitfeldt-class frigate as the basis for Indonesian’s new large frigate requirements, with the Indonesian MOD agreeing it to be the best solution among several choices considered.

The Indonesian variant is expected to have a different exterior design, subsystem layout and sensor and weapon systems fit, the basic design features are expected to be similar to the Royal Danish Navy’s variant.

Chinese army demonstrates rifle-size railgun prototypes | Army Recognition - 29 June 2020 07:32

Developed by the PLA Army Logistics University, the weapons, named Small Synchronous Induction Coilguns, come with pistol-size, rifle-size and land robot-mounted variants, according to a report by Chinese military news website js7tv.cn last week. The coilguns are essentially miniaturized, portable electromagnetic railguns so they can be used by single foot soldiers, the report said. To deal with complicated battlefield situations, they can also be mounted on small land robots and conduct armed reconnaissance missions.

According to the performance demonstration video, the coilguns use bullets stored in reloadable magazines just like a conventional gun, and they also handle like one. The coilguns can easily penetrate multiple wood plates and thin steel plates at a relatively close distance. Unlike a conventional firearm that uses the ignition of gunpowder to push a bullet slug out of a gun barrel at high velocity, a coilgun or railgun uses electromagnetic force to accelerate a projectile as it travels along the gun barrel before leaving it at an even higher velocity, military observers said.

Judging from the video, the coilguns have shown a high penetration capability and did not make much sound, making them good choices for special operations like behind-enemy-line infiltration missions, a military expert who asked not to be identified told the Global Times on Sunday, June 28.

It is obvious that these weapons are still in the prototype stage, as their range and impact are not optimum, very likely due to the guns' limited battery or capacitor capacity to store and release energy, the expert said. But once this technical problem is solved, the coilguns will become much more powerful and could replace the firearms of today.

https://www.textronsystems.com/capabilities/innovations/robotic-combat-vehicle-rcv-team-ripsaw


Image from textronsystems.com

https://www.deped.gov.ph/2020/03/21/learning-while-staying-at-home-teachers-parents-support-deped-distance-learning-platform/

Learning while staying at home: Teachers, parents support DepEd distance learning platform

PASIG CITY, March 20, 2020–  As the entire Luzon and other parts of the country remain under enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department of Education (DepEd) launched DepEd Commons, an online platform for public school teachers to support distance learning modalities.

Since its inception last Wednesday, March 17, a total of 151,749 teachers have joined the said online platform, gaining support and praise from teachers as well as parents.

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DepEd launches online platform to support distance learning
Published March 18, 2020, 9:43 PM

Like other sectors, the education system is bracing for the current and future impact of the COVID-19 in the country, especially in the learning of millions of students.

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Pascua said DepEd is “silently launching” amid the ongoing enhanced community quarantine of Luzon and more than a week after the class suspensions from the time Metro Manila was placed under community quarantine.

“We have longed for the time when suspension of classes will not in any way obstruct nor delay the education of our school children,” Pascua said. “Whenever we experience typhoons, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and armed siege, we worry about the lost days and opportunities for the next generation’s education.”

DepEd Commons can be accessed at https://commons.deped.gov.ph. Pascua noted that since it is in the initial phase, the DepEd Commons is “not complete nor perfect.”

Pascua said DepEd Commons “still has many limitations” like “contents are not yet that many, evaluation and ranking have not yet been included, separate channels for teachers, parents, students, and officials have not yet been established – but the times calls for its introduction.” Despite this, he noted the the current “circumstances have forced us to make it live.”

Pascua said DepEd Commons was “designed as a direct solution” to give access to online review materials and Open Educational Resources (OERs) during class suspensions and other similar circumstances. “These supplementary online instructional materials will be used as alternative forms in the teaching-learning process which is different from the usual face-to-face encounter.”

From the teachers, for the teachers and learners

OERs in DepEd Commons, Pascua said, are authored by public school teachers who are subject experts, properly cited and acknowledged.

“Teachers can retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute the content by blending it with a learning management system to deliver a distance learning modality,” he explained. Additionally, teachers are also “encouraged to make their own OERs or to improve and customize those that are already uploaded.”

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/03/18/deped-launches-online-platform-to-support-distance-learning/

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/taiwanese-shipbuilder-csbc-corporation-lays-keel-for-rocns-first-lpd

11 June 2020 00:00 GMT+0
Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corporation lays keel for RoCN's first LPD

Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corporation held a keel-laying ceremony on 9 June for the first of a planned class of four landing platform dock (LPD) vessels for the Republic of China Navy (RoCN).

The ceremony, which was hosted by RoCN Commander Admiral Liu Chih-pin and attended by CSBC Chairman Cheng Wen-lon, among others, was held at CSBC’s facilities in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung.

The 153 m-long amphibious ship, the construction of which began in May 2019, is being built under a TWD4.635 billion (USD156.3 million) contract awarded to CSBC in April 2018.

The vessel, which is expected to have a beam of 23 m and a full-load displacement of 10,600 tonnes, is scheduled to be handed over to the navy in April 2022.

A model of the RoCN’s future LPD was displayed at the 2018 Kaohsiung International Maritime and Defence exhibition. Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corporation held a keel-laying ceremony for the vessel on 9 June 2020. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1233672/anti-terror-bill-gets-final-senate-nod-2-senators-vote-against-measure

Anti-terror bill gets final Senate nod; 2 senators vote against measure
Inquirer.net / 03:57 PM February 26, 2020

Voting 19-2, senators approved Senate Bill 1083 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 seeking to amend the Human Security Act of 2007.

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Under the measure, there are provisions introduced on penalizing those who will propose, incite, conspire, participate in the planning, training, preparation, and facilitation of a terrorist act; as well as those who will provide material support to terrorists, and recruit members in a terrorist organization.

The bill also seeks the establishment of Philippine jurisdiction over Filipino nationals who may join and fight with terrorist organizations outside the Philippines and ensure that foreign terrorists do not use the country as a transit point and as a safe haven to plan and train new recruits for terrorist attacks in other countries.