MaxDefense Philippines V2

23/04/2026

European press reported on 23 April 2026 that the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has selected Sweden's Saab GlobalEye to replace its ageing fleet of 14 US Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.

This is complete turn-around after the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail was initially favoured to succed the E-3 Sentry, which was later considered risky due to the US Air Force itself abandoning plans to replace their own E-3 Sentry fleet with the E-7 Wedgetail.

The Saab GlobalEye is also expected to be cheaper than the larger E-7 Wedgetail, and its future use by NATO members like Sweden and France, as well as potentially winning tenders in other NATO membetrs Germany, Greece, Canada, and Denmark, would make the GlobalEye more reasonable choice.

The Saab GlobalEye is also being positioned as a potential buy under the Philippine Air Force's own Airborne Earlky Warning and Control Systems Acquisition Project, competing against American and Israeli systems.

According to our own sources, the GlobalEye could be selected regardless if the PAF selects the Saab JAS-39E/F Gripen as its next multirole fighter or not as the competition for both projects are separate.

CGI photo credits to ArmyRecognition.

23/04/2026

The Philippine Air Force stepped up its presence in the University of Santo Tomas campus in Manila by having an exhibit booth as part of th 415th Anniversary of the university.

The exhibit showed some of the projects of the PAF's Research and Development Center, as well as gears used by the 505th Search and Rescue Group, 710th Special Operations Wing, and a simulator from the 5th Fighter Wing.

This is also a good way to encourage students to look at careers in the Philippine Air Force as there are different career paths in the modern military that does not just involve warfighting.

23/04/2026

The Philippine Navy has showcased their unmanned suface vehicles, specifically the MARTAC Mantas T12 and Devil Ray T38 USVs acquired from the US, during a visit by PCG Auxiliary Cdr. Michael Romero at Naval Operating Base Subic last 20 April 2026.

Photo credits to Philippine Fleet.

21/04/2026

Back in 2017, Russia donated 5,000 units of AKM 7.62x39mm assault rifles, 20,000 ammunition magazines and 1,000,000 rounds of 7.62x39mm ball ammunition to the Armed Forces of the Philippines as part of its commitment to support former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte's administration. It appears that all the AKM rifles, magazines and ammo were handed over to the Philippine Army.

Since the Philippine Army does not use Soviet/Russian rifle calibers, it was difficult to integrate them to front line units that use either the 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm NATO standard rounds. This was despite occasional acquisition of 7.62x39mm rounds, mostly from Bulgaria, to keep the rifles useful.

Previously the rifles were seen to be equipping the then new 11th Infantry Division's provisional units when they were newly formed a few years ago, and were mostly used during training exercises. But it appears that the rifles have been re-assigned.

Based on the photos below, it appears that the Philippine Army has found use for these rifles, which now equip support units like Artillery, Combat Engineering (and probably Civil Engineering), and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) units.

Being support units, troops from these units are only expected to fight on the defensive or to protect themselves compared to frontline units like infantry, mechanized and special forces.

And since we're already at it, the CBRN units appear to be wearing BDUs with the US Woodland pattern from the 1980s

Photo credits to Harrier023 @ X.

**contrary to the belief by many, the rifles donated by China in 2017 were the Norinco CQ-A5 which are copycat of the American M4 carbine and uses 5.56x45mm NATO rounds. These were all handed over to the Philippine National Police and were not used by the AFP.

21/04/2026

Many might have questioned why there could still be interest in an old tank model like Japan's Mitsubishi Type 74 tank, which first entered service in 1975 and is considered outdated by today's standards.

It is true that the Type 74 will be outclassed by modern Chinese tanks like the PLA's Type 96 and Type 99 main battle tanks, and are easy targets for Chinese anti-tank missiles and drones.

But these old tanks have a different purpose and it is not fighting new PLA Ground Force tanks. Instead, we expect the old tanks to be fighting against the PLA Navy Marine Corps, which are equipped with the Type 05 ZTD-05/ZLT-05 amphibious light tanks coming from the sea. The old Type 74 tank has advantage of being steady on the ground and protected by a defensive mound against the newer ZTD-05 amphibious tank moving forward from the sea and dealing with sea waves, and exposed to enemy fire.

Based on how the Philippine Army employ their Sabrah light tanks for counter amphibious operations, it can be said that the Type 74 can also be used for the same purpose, which is providing direct fire against incoming amphibious assault vehicles and landing crafts.

While the tanks are vulnerable to drones, it will not be specific only to the old Type 74 tank, but to any other armored vehicle utilized for the same role, like the Sabrah tank, or even modern main battle tanks like the Type 10, K2 Black Panther or Merkava IV.

It is expected that actual counter-amphibious operations in the future will involve defenses against swarm drones which may include microwave and electronic warfare defenses, and kinetic gun-missile combination. At the moment the AFP does not have such weapons although they are eyed for acquisition and/or local development as part of SRDP and AFP Modernization Program.|

Also since they could be outmatched by enemy tanks, these Type 74s can also be used for direct fire support similar in how Ukraine and Russia utilize their tanks in support of infantry units. Being not as modern as new main battle tanks would be enough for such role.

Lastly, these tanks can also act as "enemy tanks" once the AFP complete their planned combined arms training grounds in Luzon and Mindanao.

So while they are obsolete against tank vs tank warfare, these old Type 74 tanks, which were well maintained by the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and are in pristine condition despite their age, they are still useable for the Philippine Army.

One has to also remember, these Type 74 tanks are more modern and capable than the American M60 and M48 tanks used by the Taiwanese and Thai Armies, and the Soviet Type 54/55, T-62, and Chinese Type 59 tanks still in service with the Vietnamese Army and other mainland SEA armies.

21/04/2026

The Department of National Defense - Philippines has welcomed the results of the Japanese Government's Review of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and its Implementation Guidelines, which will allow the Philippines to access both brand new and excess defense articles.

The DND is currently in negotiations with Japan for the sale of additional Air Surveillance Radar Systems, and is looking at the Type 03 Chu-SAM medium-range ground-based air defense system, while also looking to acquire excess defense articles including the Abukuma-class destroyer es**rt, TC-90 King Air aircraft,

So far it is believed that the DND may also be looking at other brand new military which may include the brand new Type 16 tank destroyers, Type 12 land based anti-ship missile systems, Improved Mogami-class frigates, and more Subaru-Bell 412EPX helicopters as well as excess defense articles including but not limited to the Type 74 tank and Type 78 armored recovery vehicles, Type 96 wheeled APCs, P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, Asagiri-class destroyers, Sugashima-class coastal minesweepers, among others.

21/04/2026

Exercise BALIKATAN 41-2026 officially kicked off yesterday 20 April 2026 at Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

This is 41st iteration of this exercise, originally a bilateral exercise between the Philippines and the United States, now includes other participating countries like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada and France, making this the largest and most expansive ever in terms of participation numbers.

As expected, China released negative statements about the exercises, despite the fact that these exercises have been ongoing for decades, even before China started seriously claiming almost the entire South China Sea.

Photo credits to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

21/04/2026

21/04/2026

In a plan that could further boost the recently-announced plan to build a 4,000-acre Economic Security Zone as part of US-Japan plans under the Luzon Economic Corridor, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung publicly stated that Taiwan would like to seek integration of the Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor (TPEC) with the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC).

Take note that this is still in the proposal stage and has not been agreed and formalized yet, although we do not know how deep the proposal has been taken by the Philippines, as well as by the US and Japan.

The goal is to align and integrate Taiwanese manufacturing strength in the semi-conductor and AI space with Philippine land, labor and logistics capacity, US and Japanese capital and technology to build resilient, democratic supply chains.

This allows Taiwan to offshore some of its manufacturing and logistics requirements without "hollowing out" its semiconductor ecosystem, derisk itself by relying less on Chinese manufacturing capacity, while also treating the Philippines as a manufacturing and processing partner and not a competitor.

In return, this will place the Philippines in a better position economically as foreign investment will pour in and provide jobs to Filipino workers, directly and indirectly, and move the country up the tech value chain.

Economic security is national security.

20/04/2026

Back in January 2026, the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that inspected the US Coast Guard's Reliance-class 210' Medium Endurance Cutters (WMEC) that would be available for transfer soon to friendly countries soon.

It remains to be seen what the results of the inspection was, if the Philippine Coast Guard will be interested to take one or some of them or not.

Out of the 16 ships of the Reliance-class, only 12 ships remain in service although only 8 ships are in active duty, the rest being commissioned on special status. Meanwhile 4 other ships already transferred to other countries, with the Sri Lankan Navy, Colombian Coast Guard and recently the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency receiving them.

To be honest, these are old ships, around the same age as the Philippine Navy's Del Pilar-class patrol vessels which were also former US Coast Guard ships. They are slow and underarmed, but has a large flight deck that can be used to operate the PCG's helicopters or to operate drones.

The ships also have very long range compared to most Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy ships, and is suitable for long patrols or supporting PCG's activities in the West Philippine Sea, and large enough to endure bullying by China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia ships.

As a gap filler, the Reliance-class is a suitable alternative especially if they can be received with minimal costs needed to make them suitable for use by the PCG. Normally this will include fittings (new furnitures and appliances, bed cushions and sheets, kitchenware,, cabinetry and toilet fixtures), machine guns and ammunition, other consumables like safety gear, fire extinguishers, etc, repair and rehabilitation works (including repainting, replacement of broken items, etc) and expenses for bringing in PCG personnel to the US and training them there, as well as the fuel and lubricants to bring the ship home.

Take note that despite plans to acquire older ships, the Philippine Coast Guard is also acquiring new ships, with 5 brand new 97-meter Magbanua-class Flight II patrol vessels underway from Japan, 60-meter Cape-class patrol vessels built locally by Australia's Austal, and 40 brand new 35-meter FPB-110 Mk. 2 fast patrol boats from France, and plans to acquire severalbrand new 83-meter Silang-class offshore patrol vessels from France and additional Coast Guard ships and buoy tenders from South Korea.

20/04/2026

We're still waiting for the names of the incoming first batch of Marine Protector-class fast boats, but we are definite that they will have the hull numbers 2701 and 2702, following Philippine Coast Guard hull numbering standards, as the Marine Protector-class boats are 27 meters long.

The boats are probably on their way to the Philippines by now