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| M113 APC (Press release photo) |
Manila, December 10, 2015—77 units of M113A2 Armed Personnel Carriers (APC) arrived at Subic Bay yesterday evening. This was the first shipment of 114 such vehicles to arrive. The second shipment of 37 units is scheduled to arrive on 14 Dec, and the remainder will be delivered later this month. The APCs will be transferred from the U.S. government to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) via the Excess Defense Article (EDA) Program.
The EDA Program grants excess U.S. military equipment from the U.S., without cost, to qualified allied countries. The transfer is a result of a formal request made by the AFP to assist in their defense modernization efforts.
The M113 was developed to provide a survivable and reliable light tracked vehicle that allows for troops to be brought forward under armor for dismounted operations. A number of the vehicles are scheduled to participate in the annual AFP Day Parade, Dec. 21.
AFP is scheduled to receive the remaining vehicles later this month.