As the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) confirming the release of funding for the initial 15% of the total project costs of the Light Tank and Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) Acquisition Projects of the Philippine Army (PA), we now believe its time to announce the results of both projects.
http://maxdefense.blogspot.com/2020/10/ ... eeled.htmlAnd yes, MaxDefense Philippines can finally confirm that the winner for both projects is none other than Elbit Systems Land & C4I of Israel, working closely with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which received the Notice of Award (NOA) for the projects a few months ago.
Elbit Systems was working with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) and Excalibur Army/Czechoslovak Group to offer the Sabrah Light Tank family using the ASCOD 2 tracked armored vehicle and the Pandur II 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle are platforms.
Also, Elbit Systems was working with IVECO Defense Vehicles for the Wheeled APC project, which offered to use the Guarani 6x6 wheeled APC.
https://www.facebook.com/AFPMupdate/pos ... ?__tn__=-RThe Philippine Army soon to acquire brandnew Sabrah light tanks from Elbit systems of Israel.
The Philippine Army (Armor Division) soon to receive;
*18 - Sabrah ASCOD 2 tracked tanks
*10 - Sabrah Pandur II 8x8 wheeled tanks
* 1 - ASCOD 2 Armored Command Vehicle
* 1 - ASCOD 2 Armored Recovery Vehicle
All tanks to be equipped with Elbit turret and 105mm gun, E-LynX SDR, Torch-X BMS & Unspecified amount of 105mm tank gun ammunition Amounted to Php 9,484,332,000.00 under Government-to-Government (G2G) Procurement with Israeli government.
SARO-BMB-D-20-0017126 dated 15 October 2020, released 21 October 2020, worth Php1,422,649,800.00 for 15% initial payment.
Notice of Award (NOA) released in favor of Elbit Systems Land & C4I on 3rd quarter 2020. Contract and Notice to Proceed (NTP) pending.
The main armament of this turret system will be a 105mm rifled cannon (with 36 rounds in reserve, including 12 in the turret and 24 in the hull) with an autoloader and a 7.62mm tank machine gun coupled with it. The gun can be powered by a wide range of ammunition, and its effective range is 3600 m.
SPECIAL ALLOTMENT RELEASE ORDER (SARO LISTING)
RELEASED DATE
5 10/21/2020 12:18:35
DEPARTMENT
17 - Department of National Defense (DND)
AGENCY
010 - General Headquarters, AFP and AFP-Wide Service Support Units (AFPWSSUS)
OPERATING UNIT
1700001 - General Headquarters - Proper
PURPOSE
To cover the funding requirements for the fifteen percent (15%) Advance Payment of the Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier Acquisition Project for the Philippine Army under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.
https://www.dbm.gov.ph/194-dbm-releases/saroRELEASED DATE
36 10/21/2020 12:1
DEPARTMENT
17 - Department of National Defense (DND)
AGENCY
010 - General Headquarters, AFP and AFP-Wide Service Support Units (AFPWSSUS)
OPERATING UNIT
1700001 - General Headquarters - Proper
PURPOSE
To cover the funding requirements for the fifteen percent (15%) Advance Payment of the Light Tank Acquisition Project for the Philippine Army under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.
4. Oktober 2020
Meanwhile, Elbit Systems revised its offer by creating the new Sabrah Light Tank System, ditching the Oto Melara Hitfact turret and developing a new turret with assistance from the Israel Ministry of Defense, Israel Defense Force Merkava Directorate, and a South African turret manufacturer. The new Sabrah Light Tank still uses both the ASCOD 2 tracked and Pandur II wheeled armored vehicles as platforms, but now with a higher elevation arc and autoloading system that matches those found in the K21-105, Amra 105, and Harimau MT.
Despite proving to the Philippine Army that a well-trained loader can beat 6 rounds per minute, and that having a 4th crew member is more beneficial and less risky than removing him in favor of an autoloading system, it decided to just follow according to the Philippine Army's requirement.
One of Elbit Systems' main selling point, which apparently gave them the lead in the project is the use of the Elbit's C4 system, including Battle Management System (BMS), and the Combat NG fire control and command system, which are already in service with the Philippine Army's upgraded M113A2 and 155mm towed howitzers, and the upcoming M113 Armored Mortar Carriers, and ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzer systems.
MaxDefense also heard that Elbit made a commitment to add something to their offer to match what Hanwha and PT Pindad did. We do not have details but MaxDefense believes it has something to do with tank and artillery ammunition.
https://www.facebook.com/MaxDefense/pos ... __tn__=K-RAs already mentioned before in our previous posts, MaxDefense received information from Philippine Army and DND sources confirming that Elbit Systems was selected by the DND and PA TWG back in early 2020, and that final negotiation was suppose to take place when COVID-19 has become a full-blown pandemic and restricted the movement of Israeli and Philippine officials.
It remains to be seen though if this decision will remain, considering a lot of things may have happened within the last 8 months since a decision was made. The Light Tank Acquisition Project was among those included in FY2020 funding with the first MYCA allocation worth Php1,422,649,800.00.