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Light Tank Acquisition Project [LTAP]

Philippine military forces engaged in a battle with Daesh-affiliated militants in the southern city of Marawi. The Philippine army exposed the weak point of poor armored vehicle protection performance during the actual combat against the insurgency, so soldiers began to bundle wood [aka "Hillbilly Armor"] on the body to increase the protection capability. Due to the backwardness of armaments, the Philippine army’s armored vehicles adopt such a crude method to increase their protection capabilities. Images of the Philippine Army Cadillac Gage V-150 armored car circulated on Twitter, showing it covered with discarded ammunition crates and salvaged wood. The wooden armor was supposed to protect it from man-portable anti-tank weapons— another image showed a RPG-2 rocket-propelled anti-tank grenade launcher captured from ISIS troops. On 23 October 2017, the Philippine defense chief has declared an end to the five-month operation aimed at liberating the southern city of Marawi, which was under a siege by Daesh-affiliated militants.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on 20 September 2018 recognized the Mechanized Infantry Division’s (MID) commitment and dedication in protecting the nation during its 12th Activation Anniversary celebration. “I congratulate the Mechanized Infantry Division as it celebrates its 12th Activation Anniversary. This occasion does not only embody the service and compassion of our men and women in uniform but also highlights the achievements of our troops in various military campaigns that promote peace and development in our communities,” President Duterte said in his speech at Camp O’Donnell’s multi-purpose hall in Capas, Tarlac. The Chief Executive said that the Filipino people would never forget the division’s support during the battle in Marawi City because MID “greatly contributed” to the city’s liberation.

He then reiterated that as long as the group performs their mandate under the law, the administration will remain steadfast in supporting them with the necessary tools and resources for the effective fulfillment of their duties as the nation’s protectors. “I am glad to inform you that under the 2nd Horizon of the Revised AFP Modernization Program, five projects worth over P13 billion will directly benefit the MID,” he beamed. “I am certain that these projects, which are already in the pipeline, will address the gaps in our defenses as we further strengthen our Armed Forces,” he added.

One example of these projects is the purchase of the mechanized vehicles for the troops. “Medyo konting pasensiya lang po [It's just a little bit of a sense of urgency] and again you will have the number of your mechanized vehicles in about two years. Kasi ‘pag inorder ho natin ‘yan, hindi naman talaga sabihin na [Kasi ‘pag inorder ho natin ‘yan, hindi naman talaga sabihin na] ready-made. When we order, they manufacture. But I said, itong aabot sa inyo [it will extend to you], it’s quite a number of armored vehicles and I’m sure it would help you a lot. There’s a lag time,” President Duterte explained.

The Light Tank Acquisition Project is separated into two categories - tracked light tank and wheeled tank destroyer/fire support vehicle. The Sabrah Light Tank based on ASCOD 2 and Pandur 2 platforms from Elbit Land Systems of Israel, a contender for the Philippine Army Light Tank Acquisition Project. Under the project, the Philippine Army will be receiving a number of tracked and wheeled light tanks. Elbit Systems' new Sabrah Light Tank was in competition with Hanwha Systems K21-105 and Otokar Arma 105 light tanks, and Pindad Harimau Light Tank.

Turkey's Pindad-FNSS Harimau medium tank was sent to the Philippines for viewing and demonstration as it tries to win the Light Tank Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army. PT Pindad also brought in the Pindad Panser Anoa 6x6 wheeled armored personnel carrier to the Philippines, which will be for viewing and demonstration with the Philippine Army. The Philippine delegation led by the Commanding General of the Philippines Army, Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto, AFP carried out a visit to PT Pindad (Persero) in order to directly review Tiger Medium Tank, various other products and production facilities owned by PT Pindad.

Philippine blog MaxDefense reported that the country’s military decided in early 2020 to purchase the Sabrah light tank produced by Israel’s Elbit Systems. However, the spread of the coronavirus epidemic was said to be preventing the final signing of the agreement. The blog estimates that the value of the first shipment is about $30 million. Elbit’s competitors for the Philippine Army Light Tank tender were the Turkish-South Korean joint venture Hanwha-Otokar’s K21-105 tracked light tank, the Arma 105 tank destroyer, and the Harimau medium tank produced by Indonesia’s PT Pindad.

In its original proposal, Elbit Systems offered a version of the ASCOD 2 medium main battle tank (MMBT) and the Pandur II tank destroyer. Elbit used the same Oto Melara Hitfact 105mm tank turret found on the ASCOD 2 MMBT, but with the gun and subsystems from Elbit Systems. Elbit also incorporated the ASCOD turret into the Pandur II tank destroyer, all in order to meet the requirements of the Philippine Army acquisition project.

The Department of National Defense (DND) released 05 September 2020 the Notice of Award (NOA) for the Philippine Army’s (PA) Light Tank Acquisition Project to the Israeli Company Elbit Systems Land Ltd. The Contract is worth Php 8.5 billion (Usd 172.2 million at the Exchange Rate of Usd 1 = Php 49.55) against a Budget of Php 9.5 billion (Usd 191.4 million) for 30 units Light Tank for the PA. Elbit will also providing the following items for free to the Philippines: 2 6x6 or 8x8 Vehicles; 5 Sniper Detectors; 3 Tank Transports; and 100 rounds of Ammunition for Training.

On October 4, 2020, Elbit Systems revised its offer with the Sabrah Light Tank for the Army's Light Tank Acquisition Project, and still using the same platforms as before. Elbit Systems revised offer proposed the new Sabrah light tank instead, abandoning the Hanwha-Otokar turret and developing a new turret with the assistance of the Merkava tank directorate and a South African turret manufacturer. The new light tank still uses ASCOD 2 and Pandur II as platforms, but now with a higher elevation arc and auto loading system compatible with those found on the K21-105, Amra 105 and Harimau MT.

According to information released on the Facebook account of MaxDefense Philippines, on October 24, 2020, the Philippines awarded the contract for the Philippine Army's Light Tank and Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier Acquisition Projects to the Israeli company Elbit Systems. Israel-based Elbit System’s Sabrah light tank series will soon be joining the Philippine Army under the Armor Division after it was selected as winning proponent for Philippine Army Light Tank Acquisition Project under the current Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.

The Sabrah light tank series is armed with 105 mm turret. The tracked variant is using ASCOD as platform, while the wheeled variant uses the Pandur II. According to Elbit, “The Sabrah light tank series is based on a tracked or wheeled platform, as part of Elbit Systems’ global cooperation with tier-one military platform manufacturers.”

“Due to ongoing development and technology insertion, the ASCOD offers advanced protection and mobility, large internal volume at very compact ddimensions, and a large payload at low GVW,” Elbit said. “The chasis provides the ASCOD with its mobility/mine protection characteristics and acts as the interface for all other primary subsytems.” Elbit noted “The Pandur offers a unique solution of wheel suspensions characterized by robus chassis components, optimum riding comfort and minimum maintenance effort”.

On 22 October 2020 The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved and released two Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) involving the light tank and wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC) acquisition projects for the Philippine Army under the current Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program. The first SARO has an amount of PHP 1,422,649,800.00 [about US$30,000,000], “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.” The second SARO amounts to PHP 339,780,000.00 [about US$7,000,000], “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. “

According to the Philippine website MaxDefense PH Defense Resource, the total acquisition agreed in a Government-to-Government (G2G) procurement between the Philippines and Israel is worth close to US$172 million (Php 8.5 billion) and includes 30 vehicles, including 18 tracked and 10 wheeled, armored command, and armored recovery vehicles.