Pitz Defense Analysis

07/08/2026

For almost a year since the incident happened on August 11, 2025 (which is basically days from now marking its first anniversary), China finally acknowledges that there were casualties inflicted resulted from their recklessness, with a China Coast Guard cutter and the People's Liberation Army Navy destroyer collided each other during its pursuit of BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) of the Philippine Coast Guard near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), Zambales.

Quoting the article, "The names of two coast guard personnel are listed among “martyrs” on an official commemorative website run by China’s veterans’ affairs ministry. Yi Xinyu, aged 21, and Cheng Long, aged 25, died while on a maritime rights protection mission, their citations say. Cheng’s says he died “tragically, heroically,” while Yi’s notes he was in a frontline South China Sea operation."

This confirmed as the first casualty selfishly inflicted by Chinese authorities while conducting their patrols over the West Philippine Sea, solidifying their so-called 'claims' that is clearly indicated as illegal and void in the arbitral award issued in 2016, which in itself celebrated its 10th anniversary recently.

(August 6, 2026, REUTERS) – Chinese authorities have marked the deaths of two Coast Guard pers

04/08/2026

The Naval Shipyard aims to secure at least a single 3,500 ton floating drydock, which aims to replace its older ones in service, and will also aim to provide an additional maintenance facility capable of maintaining its larger ships that are entering in service like the Abukuma-class destroyer escorts and the two (2) repeat orders of the Miguel Malvar-class frigates.

This acquisition project is actually included in the procurement monitoring report made by the Department of National Defense for the first half of 2026, whereby its approved budget for the contract amounts to Php 2.265 Billion, of which its status is still on pre-procurement conference and for posting on both PhilGEPS and the website of the department itself.



Image (c) Naval Shipyard, shared by Keen Sentinel on X.

03/08/2026

Both the Philippines and Ukraine started to make an agreement relating to a special 'drone deal' format, bringing the drone building, operations, and counter-drone skills from the Ukrainian frontlines to the Philippines.

This come as the delegation of the Department of National Defense headed by Undersecretary Salvador Mison met Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Igor Zhovka for an exchange of expertise and also to improve the defense ties and cooperation between both countries.

Ukrainian drones are exceptionally notable for its destruction brought against key targets within Russian territory, most notably against key oil depots and other infrastructure that have resulted to an ongoing fuel shortage within the country since the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territories in 2022.

Given this deal, obtaining drones will provide the Philippine Armed Forces a comprehensive and cost-effective firepower solution for its defense needs, although this might come as a complementary to its conventionally-fielded military hardware, especially to the geographical difference between both Ukraine and the Philippines.

Through the forging of frameworks and dialogue for this drone deal, both countries aim to benefit not only for the Philippines to field its own drone force, but also for Ukraine to expand its foothold in the drone market and also on its aim of seeking support from ASEAN, which the Philippines currently chairs.



https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1188024.html

Image (c) Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto

02/08/2026

One of the projects mentioned in the 2026-1 Procurement Monitoring Report is the 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (PGM Ready) project of the Philippine Army.

According to the said report, the remarks highlighted that it is a negotiated procurement through a defense cooperation agreement dated October 29, 2025 (a typo on the report that says October 29, 2026). Accordingly, it is still pending on the Implementing Arrangement Part for its procurement activities to proceed.

Amounting to Php 5.5 Billion in its budget, the project aims to get twelve (12) additional self propelled howitzers, likely between the KNDS CAESAR SPH and the DITA 155mm by the Excalibur Army.

In the 2025 Procurement Monitoring Review, the report shows the Philippine Army's interest in getting more self-propelled howitzers for its own use.

02/08/2026

Images: Here are some of the highlighted images of the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) taking part during the RIMPAC 2026.

Alongside the likes of the United States Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy, the ship belonging to the Philippine Coast Guard and its crew took part in various activities, such as the Search and Rescue operations, gunnery operations, and even seizure operations that will help improve the exchange of knowledge and skills among the crews and personnel that took part in the joint exercises.

Their participation count as the first for both the Philippine Coast Guard and the RIMPAC 2026 itself, which makes the former its first foreign coast guard participant in the multilateral naval exercise in the Pacific region.



Image retrieved from DVIDS.

02/08/2026

The Department of National Defense released its Procurement Monitoring Report encompassing the first half of 2026.

One AFP Modernization-related project that is at 'completed procurement activities' remark is the procurement of three (3) year spare parts for the FA-50PH maintenance, ensuring that the current eleven (11) units in service will continuously operate even as the Philippine Air Force sets to introduce another squadron into service.

Ongoing procurement activities encompassing two (2) Bids and Awards Committee of the DND relative to expanded firepower upgrades and sensor capabilities (with the exception of the AFP cyber-systems upgrade as it requires its own discussion) will come as follows:

- Philippine Army's 60mm and 81mm mortar, amounting to Php 2.565 Billion under Negotiated Procurement;
- Ground-based Air Defense System (GBADS) Requirement of the Philippine Air Force, amounting to Php 1.252 Billion under Direct Contracting scheme;
- One (1) Lot Night Fighting System Capability Development for the PAMU and 11th Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army, amounting to Php 1.148 Billion under Limited Source Bidding Scheme;
- Corvette Weapons and Sensors Systems Upgrade Lot 1A and 1B for both surface to air missile and 35mm ammunition (referring to the Miguel Malvar-class frigates' VL-MICA ammunition and Gokdeniz CIWS ammunition) amounting to Php 7.790 Billion and Php 690 Million, respectively, both under Direct Contracting scheme;
- 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (PGM Ready) of the Philippine Army, amounting to Php 5.5 Billion under Negotiated Procurement scheme;
- Procurement of S-70i Black Hawk Helicopter Full Flight Simulator for the Philippine Air Force, amounting to Php 3.039 Billion under Limited Source Bidding;
- Frigate Weapons and Sensors System Upgrade Project (Installation of close-in weapons system and towed array sonar for the Jose Rizal-class frigate) amounting to Php 5.349 Billion under Direct Contracting scheme;
- Acquisition of 3,500 tons floating drydock of Naval Shipyard, Naval Sea Systems Command (NSSC), amounting to Php 2.265 Billion under Competitive Bidding scheme;
- Acquisition of Forward Support Equipment of Project (lots 1, 2, and 3) of the Philippine Army, amounting to Php 872 Million subject to Negotiated Procurement scheme;
- Philippine Air Force FA-50PH Systems Upgrade, amounting to Php 2.017 Billion (encompassing Lot 2a, 2b, and 3, with 2a under Direct Contracting scheme and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for both Lots 2b and 3).
- Philippine Air Force Additional Air Defense Surveillance Radar System (ADSRS) with Radar Basing Support System (RBSS) amounting to Php 14.687 Billion under Negotiated Procurement scheme;
- Philippine Air Force Radar Basing Support System Phase 2 amountitng to Php 1.4 Billion with procurement mode still for recommendation;
- Philippine Air Force Presidential Aircraft, amounting to Php 8.814 Billion under Direct Contracting scheme; and
- Philippine Army's Combat Engineer Equipment - Lot 2 (Floating Support Bridge), amounting to Php 1.7 Billion under Negotiated Procurement scheme.

Several of the projects like for the corvettes that became the Miguel Malvar-class frigate were carried over from the previous year, indicating the need for the amendment of Funds and Technical Specification as provided in the 2026-1 Procurement Monitoring Report.

Others, like the 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (PGM Ready) of the Philippine Army, still requires facilitation of Implementing Arrangement for the project's procurement activities to push through.

One interesting prospect is the Philippine Army's Combat Engineer Equipment for Floating Support Bridge has 'awaiting issuance of SIA with the government of France' as its remarks, indicating that the source of the equipment, including its scheme being negotiated procurement, will likely mean that the equipment might get sourced from the said European country.

To access the documents, kindly check these links of the Department of National Defense below.
1.https://www.dnd.gov.ph/Files/ShowFile?url=/FilesUploaded/Ckeditor/file/PMR_DND_BAC2_1st_Sem_2026.pdf
2.https://www.dnd.gov.ph/Files/ShowFile?url=/FilesUploaded/Ckeditor/file/PMR_DND_BAC1_1st_Sem_2026.pdf
3.https://www.dnd.gov.ph/Files/ShowFile?url=/FilesUploaded/Ckeditor/file/PMR_DND_BAC3_1st_Sem_2026-2.pdf

Image represented for reference.

27/07/2026

During his interview with One News' The Long Take with Ed Lingao and Manny Mogato, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro revealed the status of the Philippine Air Force's Multirole Fighter Jet Acquisition Program, when asked by the interviewers relative to the overall efforts made to the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

He highlighted that the overall implementation of the program is still far from fruition, contrary to the reports made that the Philippine Air Force is actively finalizing the order made for the KF-21 Boramaes pushed by Korea Aerospace Industries for this acquisition project.

The primary reason he presented in the interview points to the previous discussion made on our website relative to the MRF packages, whereby it comes with at least forty (40) fighter jets, an AWACs platform, and a air refueling tanker that would define a comprehensively intertwined, fully integrated air defense network that effectively monitoring and interdicting Philippine airspace.

The said article can be accessed here.
https://www.pitzdefanalysis.net/2026/01/dnd-mrf-package-proposal-explained.html

However, there is more to the reason to this matter, as the budget for this program will likely rely on two things - which are the Unprogrammed Appropriations, and the need to amend the Presidential Decree 415 to accomodate soft loans with higher allowable ceiling, whereby the program will likely not pushed through if not for resolving these financial mechanisms.

This gives a very important lesson for those who really watch the development not only this acquisition project, but for every program that the Department of National Defense pushes - keep expectations down, and it is only when the ink gets dried and the first deliveries arrived in the country will it be a realization of what was once just a plan.

Link to the interview here.
https://youtu.be/7gz6OkOXVxw?si=nuucdoXCP2J0CO8u

25/07/2026

Image: Philippine Navy's BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG6) in the background, sailing along with three ships in the image belonging to Canada, South Korea, and the United States, during the formation phase of RIMPAC 2026.

This is the first for the BRP Miguel Malvar and its crew to take part in the event, as it continued the Philippine Navy's commitment since 2018 when they sent the BRP Davao del Sur (LD602) and BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS42, then FF17) to this multilateral naval exercise hosted by the United States Navy Pacific Command.

As the fleet introduces more new warships into service, there is a chance that more Philippine Navy ships will take part in this event, giving a chance for the crew to take part in the interoperability and subject matter exchange training, plus the opportunity to take images like this one.

Image from DVIDS.

25/07/2026

Images: The BRP Gabriela Silang of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) took part in the formation exercise of all participating vessels of this year's Rim of the Pacific Exercise or RIMPAC 2026.

This is the first time for the Philippine Coast Guard to take part in this exercise, and it is also the first time for the multilateral exercise to invite a foreign coast guard to take part in this activity, which means accompanying the United States Coast Guard in exchanging relevant subject matter expert exchanges and other important matters at hand.

This comes as the Philippine Coast Guard plays a crucial role alongside the Philippine Navy as frontline services that deter aggression in the West Philippine Sea.



Images from DVIDS.