Military to send technical experts to Russia

The Philippines will send technical working groups (TWGs) to Russia to see how the helicopters, submarines and armaments it is offering could be integrated into the country’s defense systems.

Speaking to reporters after Monday’s arrival ceremonies for the Philippine contingent to the recent Rim of the Pacific military exercises in Hawaii, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said TWGs from the Air Force, Navy and Army would soon be sent to Russia to evaluate the weapons systems.

Navy chief Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad and military technical experts have underscored the importance of “interoperability” in the acquisition of equipment such as submarines and fighter jets.

Technical specifications

“When we buy equipment, we must ensure that we come up with technical specifications that will make sure that the interoperability with our [other equipment] will be taken into consideration,” Empedrad said last week.

Lorenzana, who returned from Russia over the weekend, said he was shown the military hardware being offered to the country, particularly Mi-17 helicopters and the Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines.

“We are looking at equipment that would be apt to our capabilities… if it is within our budget, if we really need the equipment for our HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response) and defense,” he said.

He explained that President Duterte declined the F-16 multirole fighter jets being offered by the United States because “we have no enemies here.”

“I don’t think we’ll be engaging in dogfights or fighting with China or any other countries here, so what we really need are [aircraft] that have dual purpose—civilian and military use,” Lorenzana said.