2nd Multiple Launch Rocket System Battery (2MLRS Btry)

[adroth]

Army activates Aviation Regiment, Air Defense and Missile units

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rpdefense/permalink/2437003329718833/

FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – In a joint ceremony, the Philippine Army (PA) activated its Aviation “Bagwis” Regiment (Provisional) (AvnR (P)), 2nd Multiple Launch Rocket System Battery (2MLRS Btry) and 1st Land-based Missile System Battery (1LBMS Btry) in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija today, Thursday, October 3, 2019.

The PA Commanding General Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto led the activation and the assumption of command of the three units. The AvnR (P) will be commanded by Col. Jesus Rico D. Atencio while the 2MLRS Btry will be headed by Maj. Junel D. Uden and the 1LBMS Btry by Maj. Edgardo B. Ocampo.

The activation of the said units aims to strengthen the Army defense against current, emerging, and future threats. These units will play a vital role in the Army’s fight against terrorism and the communist insurgency.

The Army Aviation Battalion has been upgraded to the AvnR (P). It will be maintaining its current fleet of fixed-wing aircraft for special aviation mission while it develops its capabilities in armed reconnaissance, air assault and air medical evacuation by utilizing rotary wing aircraft. This new unit enables the Army forces to be agile, lethal and versatile.

“We will be acquiring light attack helicopters, armed reconnaissance helicopters, and multi-purpose medium lift helicopters. Through the upgraded Army Aviation Regiment as an integral component of our combined arms operations, our Army will have the capability to conduct a better array of aviation operations to support ground forces and be more responsive in the archipelagic setting in the defense posture,” said Alberto.

On the other hand, the 2MLRS Btry and the 1LBMS Btry under the Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) will help augment the troop’s firepower in large scale armed confrontation for internal defense and security engagements.

The activation of the two AAR regiment is in line with Army’s development of Air Defense units and Missile units. The Air Defense units will protect the force against air threats while the Missile units aims to deny areas of enemy approach as well as suppress their air capabilities.

“We put primacy on the activation of these units in order to continuously enhance our aviation and air defense capability as we operate with the intent to be a modern and well-equipped Army, to address fast evolving threats and finish the insurgency at the soonest time possible,” Alberto added.

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[adroth]

Now we know which unit will be operating the South Korean MLR systems

Administrator's note: See also Developing a long-range retaliatory strike capability


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Army to activate Aviation Regiment within this year
By Priam Nepomuceno August 14, 2019, 2:24 pm

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1077765

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He added that that the multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) acquired from South Korea will undergo its second visual inspection anytime soon.

"May pinag-usapan sa (there are talks on what to use as) transport system (for the MLRS)," Manuel said.

He said the South Korean-acquired MLRS, the "Kooryung," has a range of 48 kilometers to 80 kilometers and that it is composed of four batteries with one going to the Philippine Marine Corps.

A battery consists of six launcher tubes or artillery pieces. Manuel said the MLRS can be used for internal and territorial or external defense.

< Edited >

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http://www.military-today.com/artillery/kooryong_images.htm

[girder]

A question that arises is what is the technical and doctrinal demarcation between land-based missile systems and rocket artillery?

Obviously the Army believes there is an important distinction between the two to have created two separate units, and certainly there is certainly a significant difference between the systems being eyed (BrahMos  & Kooryung). The U.S. Army has its own rule of thumb definitions for such things, but the rise of guided rocket artillery (including guidance systems for pre-existing rocket systems), blurs the line. 

Will the P.A. determine which unit operates which based on caliber and range of the projectiles, regardless of the presence of a guidance system? Or will the latter be the primary consideration?