$16 million for one ship, the Philippine Navy was thinking about lease/buying 2 Newport Class LST, and these costs $12.5 million a year to operate. Now there is news about the Navy in negotiations for 2 Endurance Class, instead of the Endurance Class or more "refurbished" World War 2 Class LSTs. The Enduranc class has a 8,500 ton full load capability and is 140 meters long, can carry 350 men, 18 "tanks" plus more vehciles and cargo, and armed with 1 76mm gun, 2 Mistral SAMs, 2 .50 caliber machine guns. But the ship requires only a cre of 65 men due to Singapore's highly automated and automatic systems. Malaysia's Newport Class however is also 8,500 tons full load but more than 170 meters long, a Phalanx system and 4 .50 caliber guns. But has a crew of over 250 men. Along with buying the Endurance, should the Philippine Navy decide to, they will also need to buy a new advanced or upgraded helicopterr(s) for supporting the marine landings as well as surveilance and maybe ASuW duties. Or if in support of Marine operations, these can be armed with 2? Helicopter gunships, AH-1J or upgraded versions? The PN will also need to buy the PMC a new amphibious vessels. Several offers and considerations include offers by taiwan to transfer LVTP-5/6, similar to PMC but with many upgrades, as well as buying USMC and South Korean versions of the AAVP-7, as well as more V-300 FSV and APC variants.
As far as the Peackcock upgrades, the upgrades was never for missiles, just similar upgrades as the Irish Navy's Peackcocks got. The upgraded consisted refurbishing the engines, a new fire control system, new surface search radar, and a new 25mm gun. The point is to make all 3 ships ready and available. Missiles are just not in the current needs of the Navy, they can't even buy bigger guns for the Cyclone, some of the newest ship in the PN. Unless the British government wants to donate some SSMs.
As for frigates, the PN was offered alot of ships, honestly I wouldve chosen 1 OH Perry, and 2 of those Knox class frigates, and 6 of those A-69 corvettes, more than enough for defense. the Philippine Navy's best chance now for an ocena-going "large" fleet is to try to get some of those Hamilton Class ships and Medium Endurance as well as more Cyclone ships. Like I said before, the Hamiltons are constantly upgraded and well maintained. Even if the PN can only get one and can't get bigger weaponry than the current weapons, it will still be a great replacement for the Cannon not to mention in can carry a helicopter. atleast 1 Hamilton class, 4 Medium-Endurance, along with the 3 hopefully-all to be ready Peackocks, and for 1+2more to hopefully come Cyclones to be a new "large force" of ocean going fleet to replace the PCE and auk fleet, one of each ship in reserve or used for training.
