By: Frances Mangosing
CROW VALLEY—The Philippines is considering to acquire an advanced US long-range rocket launcher amid China’s sweeping expansion in the disputed South China Sea.
The US Marines showcased its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on Thursday in Tarlac, in front of top Philippine defense and military officials and US representatives, as part of the US-PH live fire drills for this year’s Balikatan exercises.
“This is something new actually, in the procurement systems and even our items for consideration now because I know the authorities of the military would like to have a good look at it and maybe a better consideration coming up with one,” exercise director for the Philippine side and Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez said.
“We have seen the capability, highly mobile, lethal so I think that’s one of the capability we want to have,” he added.
The Philippine government earlier included an equipment similar to the HIMARS in its modernization program, the Shore-Based Missile System worth P6.5 billion, but was realigned by then Army commander and now Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri in favor of helmets, rifles and night goggles for the Philippine Army.
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