Shore-based Missile System

[adroth]

The AFP modernization controversy of the year 2015 was the deferral of the Philippine Army's Shore-Based Missile System (SBMS) to an as yet undisclosed "horizon" of the AFP Modernization Program. This was discussed on the Timawa forum on the following thread. Funds for the P6.5B project -- which originally became public in 2011 and discussed on the forum -- were realigned to acquire force-protection equipment instead. It was a stunning reversal of a territorial defense initiative that drew boisterous condemnation on defense social media and earned the Chief of Staff AFP, General Hernando Iriberri, the monicker "General Helmet".

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New AFP chief defends scrapping of planned purchase of missiles
Published July 10, 2015 1:13pm
By AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News
(Updated 2 p.m.) Newly installed Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri on Friday defended their decision to scrap the planned purchase of a shore-based missile system and instead, procure helmets, night goggles, and body armor.
 
In an interview with reporters, Iriberri said he was the one who requested for the purchase of the helmets, night goggles, and body armor as he deemed it more important to protect the soldiers during encounters.
 
< Edited >
 
He reiterated the argument of the Defense Department that the SBMS is just a proposal.
 
“Wala pa pong mga approval diyan kaya we made a counter proposal for the best interest ng Philippine Army at ng ating kasundaluhan.
 
< Edited > 

Earlier, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, retired AFP chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang and Iriberri removed the P6.5 billion shore-baed missile system (SBMS) deal between Israel and the Philippines from the list of military hardware to be procured by the government.

- See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/519758/news/nation/new-afp-chief-defends-scrapping-of-planned-purchase-of-missiles#sthash.p8Q6uvwF.dpuf

[israeli]

AFP readying purchase of missiles vs external threats
By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) | Updated March 5, 2017 - 12:00am

While keeping its focus on internal security, the military is looking forward to better external fighting capabilities with its multibillion-peso Shore-Based Missile System (SBMS) acquisition project.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda bared the plan to reporters Wednesday when asked if the Army is upgrading its external defense capabilities despite its focus on dealing with local threats.

“It’s in the planning stage,” Miranda stressed.

The P6.5 billion SBMS acquisition project was shelved during the previous administration and the budget for it realigned and used for the acquisition of force protection equipment to increase the survivability of soldiers deployed in conflict zones.

Miranda said that SBMS project is still being pursued but this can wait, he added, as the Army is still building up its internal fighting capabilities.

“There’s a plan (for SBMS) project but we have to address first the needs of our soldiers in the field for them to be highly effective in addressing internal security threats,” Miranda said.

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Miranda said SBMS project would come under Phase 2 of the Modernization Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

<snipped>