Les Philippines ont confirmé qu’elles acquerraient des sous-marins pour leur flotte dans le cadre des efforts visant à renforcer leur défense territoriale face à l’agression chinoise dans la mer occidentale des Philippines.
Jeoffrey Maitem 06 févr. 2024
L’argent destiné au programme d’acquisition proviendra d’un plan de modernisation révisé sur 10 ans, d’une valeur de 2 000 milliards de pesos (35,62 milliards de dollars), récemment approuvé par le président Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Le commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, porte-parole de la marine philippine pour la mer des Philippines occidentales, a déclaré jeudi aux journalistes qu’ils avaient soumis sa liste de souhaits pour de nouveaux actifs comprenant des sous-marins.
« Nous ne faisons pas seulement [need] un sous-marin, il nous en faut deux ou trois »,
« L’Horizon 3 a été approuvé, nous avons donné notre liste [but] nous ne savons pas lequel de [our requests was approved,”Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad
Former President Rodrigo Duterte had planned to acquire at least two submarines. The Philippine Navy had estimated the project to cost about 70 billion pesos (U.S. $1.2 billion), including logistics support and development of ports to house the submarines.
“Next, we are embarking into what we call the ‘Rehorizoned 3’ capability enhancement and modernization program where the President recently approved an array of capabilities,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.
“The Armed Forces will transition initially to enable itself to guarantee, as much as possible, Philippine corporations and those authorized by the Philippine environment the unimpeded and peaceful exploration and exploitation of all natural resources within our exclusive economic zone and other areas where we have jurisdiction,” he added.
France is among the countries expressing interest in supplying submarines to the Southeast Asian nation, which along with Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan are engaged in a territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea. Indonesia, which is not a claimant, has a separate dispute with Beijing.
French Ambassador to Manila, Marie Fontanel, said her country is currently looking at the possible sale to the Philippines of submarines, fighter planes and other defense hardware.
“Yes, indeed, we are still in discussions for submarines. Many people discussed that (and) my impression is that there is still a need to explain why for a maritime nation like the Philippines there’s a need to have a submarine force. It doesn’t seem to be that obvious for everyone,” Fontanel said. “But in fact, it serves to deter the threat, it’s one of the most efficient equipment,” she told reporters last week.
Naval News previously covered France’s offer to the Philippine Navy’s program through Naval Group, which includes two Scorpenes and a renovation of Naval Operating Base Subic for the submarines.
Other contenders for the program include South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean with the KSS-IIIPN and Spain’s Navantia with the S-80 design. All offers promise to deliver two attack boats as well as the construction of support facilities in the Philippines.
At the moment, France, South Korea and Spain are the leading candidates for the program. However, it has been confirmed to Naval News that the Philippine Navy is examining other countries. In January, Philippine Navy officials reached out to Italy’s Fincantieri for information.
In October last year, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Branwer Jr. confirmed the acquisition of diesel-electric submarines would take place in the latter part of the military’s ongoing modernization program.
“The (Philippine) Navy has a long range of equipment requests on its wish list,” Brawner said in a recent media interview, when asked if the acquisition of at least two submarines for the Philippine Navy is included in the new Horizon 3 of the AFP’s modernization program.
Manila’s plan to get its own submarine came on the heels of China’s harassment against the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s name for South China Sea waters within its 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
In December last year, the central government accused China of harassment and ramming while the Philippine Coast Guard conducted a resupply mission to a military outpost at Second Thomas Shoal.
China has competing claims in the South China Sea with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.
2024-02-06 12:08:36
1707212018
#Les #Philippines #confirment #quelles #vont #acquérir #des #sousmarins
