Retitled: BRP Ramon A Alcaraz (PF-16) - ex USCGC Dallas [WHEC-716]

[ManilaBoy40]

 Any new updates as to when will PF-16 finally get underway for home ...   

[rbcrecto]

Some good news, the two Hamiltons will get missile armaments as per news from Manila Bulletin:

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/372747/new-equipment-for-navy-ships

New Equipment For Navy Ships

By ELENA L. ABEN

September 8, 2012, 8:25pm

 
MANILA, Philippines — A top defense official said the Hamilton-class cutters of the Philippine Navy (PN) will get sophisticated radars and an anti-ship missile system to make the vessels more capable of engaging intruders to Philippine territorial waters.
 
According to the official, the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and the soon-to-arrive BRP Ramon Alcaraz, will be equipped with Harpoon, an anti-ship missile system, and will also be fitted with more sophisticated radars capable of detecting and tracking incoming surface threats and anti-missile and torpedo decoying systems.
 
The official said the Harpoon is the ideal missile system for Del Pilar and Alcaraz, noting that a sister-ship of the vessels, the USCGC Mellon (WHEC-717), has been fitted with the Harpoon missile launchers and test fired the weapons in January, 1990. Both Del Pilar and Alcaraz were acquired from the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
 
“These upgrades will make our Hamilton-class cutters more capable vessels. It will definitely satisfy our minimum deterrent capability as far as naval defense is concern,” the official emphasized.

Hope this is not "kuryente"

I wonder what happenned to the Maestrale purchase from Italy???

[zaidanR]

Nice find sir  and Great News again!
this should put out all looming questions whether our Del Pilar class will be upgraded or not. I guess the only question now is... when will this be??

[WApinoy]

Nice find sir  and Great News again!
this should put out all looming questions whether our Del Pilar class will be upgraded or not. I guess the only question now is... when will this be??

If we base this number of PN ships development heading to the 2020 PN modernization program, this should be made quick as possible, arming the Hamilton class with missile and the acquisitions of the 2 or more Italian maestrale's, this possible 4 real missile frigate development for PN should be done with in 2014 upon the arrival of Maestrale's and at the same time Hamilton's should be fully upgraded by missile by that time, because we are targeting at least 6 missile frigate if im not mistaken and 18 OPV's etc.. Slower development by the PN acquisition than that will never meet the said target, everything should be made quick with in Pnoy's term, before 2016.

[LionFlyer]

Some good news, the two Hamiltons will get missile armaments as per news from Manila Bulletin:

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/372747/new-equipment-for-navy-ships

New Equipment For Navy Ships

By ELENA L. ABEN

September 8, 2012, 8:25pm

 
MANILA, Philippines — A top defense official said the Hamilton-class cutters of the Philippine Navy (PN) will get sophisticated radars and an anti-ship missile system to make the vessels more capable of engaging intruders to Philippine territorial waters.
 
According to the official, the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and the soon-to-arrive BRP Ramon Alcaraz, will be equipped with Harpoon, an anti-ship missile system, and will also be fitted with more sophisticated radars capable of detecting and tracking incoming surface threats and anti-missile and torpedo decoying systems.
 
The official said the Harpoon is the ideal missile system for Del Pilar and Alcaraz, noting that a sister-ship of the vessels, the USCGC Mellon (WHEC-717), has been fitted with the Harpoon missile launchers and test fired the weapons in January, 1990. Both Del Pilar and Alcaraz were acquired from the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
 
“These upgrades will make our Hamilton-class cutters more capable vessels. It will definitely satisfy our minimum deterrent capability as far as naval defense is concern,” the official emphasized.

Hope this is not "kuryente"

I wonder what happenned to the Maestrale purchase from Italy???

So.... did anyone bother to ask who is this official which gave this information? Was he speaking in a personal capacity or is this the official line? There is absolutely nothing here.

[shalelord1@tmw]

sorry will belive it if I see it installed at Alcaraz and Goyo

[cappelan]

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/4011-gazmin-eyes-1m-reservists-hamilton-class-cutters-to-get-harpoon-missile-refits

Gazmin eyes 1M reservists; Hamilton class cutters to get Harpoon missile refits
Written by  Tribune Sunday, 09 September 2012 00:00

Meanwhile, a ranking Department of National Defense official has said two of the country’s Hamilton-class cutters — the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and the soon-to-arrive BRP Ramon Alcaraz — will most likely get Harpoon missile refits to make them more capable of engaging intruders in Philippine territorial waters.

Aside from the Harpoons, the two ships will also be fitted with more sophisticated radars capable of detecting and tracking down incoming surface threats and anti-missile and torpedo decoying systems.

“These upgrades will make our Hamilton-class cutters more capable vessels. It will definitely satisfy our minimum deterrent capability as far as naval defense is concerned,” said the official, who requested anonymity.

[r3mu511@TMW]

^ radar just for "surface threats"? or did media just mistakenly omit air threat coverage for the radars being eyed?

"anti-missile" systems... so a ciws of some sort? can't be just passive as the srbocs are still there, so these must be active, unless they mean passive anti-missile systems as in ew/ecm...

[andry_hypholaphamus]

 Very good. Th navy's really getting now the attention that it rightfully deserves. As a maritime nation, we owe it to ourselves to produce a sophisticated navy which can patrol our vast maritime resources. i just find it a bit amusing though that our politicians would not have supported the navy if it werent for the aggressive actions of the chinese in the recent months.
 
 there are words that Senators are now more in favor of developing the navy first before the air force having in mind of course the PH's limited budget for modernizing the latter. 
 in fact, one particular "oldie" senator who is used to "ostentatious public display" was said to have approached the DND chief in one chance encounter where they were both present and the former expressed his personal opinion to the sec on this matter re modernizing the navy first. 
The Sec was said to have been amused by this incident because he distinctly recalled that during his confirmation process in the Commission on Appointments, this same oldie senator who is a member of that body, tried to make a little ruckus over the acquisition of BRP Del Pilar, claiming that it would be more prudent if the PH acquired jetfighters instead because they're a lot faster than the 2nd hand ship when it comes to engaging our intruders. now, the old senator has grown the wiser and finally realized that a warship no matter how old and under-equipped, will always be an extension of the philippine territory. this is not to belittle our air force modernization program but we really need to beef up our naval forces first so we can barricade those parts of our territory which have not yet been occupied by china.

[Bubalus Bubalis]

ever understand what "on condition of anonymity" means?  can't blame ya being so negative

So.... did anyone bother to ask who is this official which gave this information? Was he speaking in a personal capacity or is this the official line? There is absolutely nothing here.

[redcomet_m]

@rem
baka SBROC lang pards. Anti missile decoy system e. I hope if we fit them with harpoons, lets go harpoons all the way, well except the maestrales though. AGMS and RGMS, heck even mobile coastal batteries.  Do we need some sort of congress approval to get harpoons? if so are there any articles pertaining to us asking us congress?

[unicorn-1]

That is good news for our country since China snub our President in the APEC meeting in Russia a clear sign that they prepared to engage and not back out in thier claims in South China Sea. We really need this military platforms to protect and equip our navy from foreign threats, let us hope and pray that our politician will approve the modernization law.

[Adroth]

Notes and questions:

- The potential to embark Harpoons has been there since day one. It has always been more of a "when" rather an "If". What isn't clear is the timeline for this.

- Would this effort take place BEFORE the PCG's Japanese assets arrive (if they ever do)?

- If upgraded before these PCG assets arrive, would we lose the option to deploy a "relatively benign" high-sea-state capable vessel to the EEZ? Could their deployment be used as a pretext for escalation?

[arkitek4]

Notes and questions:

- The potential to embark Harpoons has been there since day one. It has always been more of a "when" rather an "If". What isn't clear is the timeline for this.

- Would this effort take place BEFORE the PCG's Japanese assets arrive (if they ever do)?

- If upgraded before these PCG assets arrive, would we lose the option to deploy a "relatively benign" high-sea-state capable vessel to the EEZ? Could their deployment be used as a pretext for escalation?

OMG I never thought about it like this, all along I thought the Gov was not arming the AFP well opting for ill equipped ships but this statement only proves the wisdom of planners in both the PH and USA. So with this I apologize.

I hope though the reported 2-new guns mounted on a stabilized gun platform purchase would be installed on the GDP and the upcoming new Alcaraz.

 

[Bubalus Bubalis]

nice observation sir adroth, but in my humble opinion i don't think so..

depends on where you're looking from.. from their side, we can almost be assured that this kind of move would raise a howl from every sector of their society, from their foreign ministry to their heavily-controlled media.. i will bet on it..

but on our side, the president will say we have every right to guard our territories with every thing we have in our disposal. we have been doing this before and there is no reason we'll not do it again.. Humabon have been sent to the Scarborough Shoal and of course the Del Pilar..