6 APCs boost Army arsenal

Six units of fully refurbished and upgraded armored personnel carriers (APCs) arrived this week from Israel to beef up the arsenal of the Philippine Army aimed at reducing soldier casualties in the field.

The APCs were immediately delivered to the Army’s mechanized infantry division last Thursday, said Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato.

He said a .50-caliber machine gun with remote control, which will arrive this weekend, will be installed within 15 days.

“This system will allow lock-on target and fire on the move day or night,” Detoyato said.

The six APCs comprise the first batch of the 28 armored vehicle acquisition project under the first horizon of the Armed Forces modernization program.

The cost of the upgrades for the six APCs, including shopping, taxes and demurrage fees, totaled P142 million.

The Israeli company, Elbit Systems Ltd., won the P882-million contract for the supply of armored vehicles.