Russian submarine deal alarms US

PH told to think carefully about the plan as it does not help ties with Washington

AUnited States (US) official on Thursday said the plan of the Philippines, its long-time ally, to acquire big-ticket items like submarines from Russia does not help with the alliance.

US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver said the Philippine government should think very carefully about its plan to buy or acquire submarines from Russia. He made the comment as he spoke to reporters at the US embassy in Manila, where he discussed various topics affecting the Asia-Pacific region,

including the Philippines.

Schriver also stressed that the US can be a better partner to the Philippines than Russia.

“I think they should think very carefully about that. If they would have to proceed purchasing major Russian equipment, I don't think that is a helpful thing to the alliance and ultimately I think we can be a better partner than the Russians can be to the Philippine people,” Schriver said.

The American official, who arrived in the country last Wednesday, explained that if one country will buy weapons systems, they are not just buying the capability, but investing in a relationship.

“Well, when you buy weapons systems particularly major platforms you're not just buying capability, you're investing in a relationship. Finding US platforms, US solutions helps us continue in our interoperability, helps us improve our ability to operate in all kinds of scenarios, so that is an opportunity (cause) if you choose another supplier…,” Schriver said without elaborating.

“I think more than that, I mean let us understand the nature of this regime in Russia. I don't need to go to the full laundry list... Crimea, Ukraine, the chemical attack in UK, so you are investing in not only platforms but making a statement about our relationship,” he said.

Russia, it was recalled, is keen on selling to the Philippines its Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines, which has surface displacement of 2,350 tons, a length of 73.8 meters, and capable of speed of 17 to 20 knots.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said if the Philippines has no money to buy its first-ever submarine, Russia is more than willing to provide the country “soft loans” to acquire the specialized underwater craft,” Lorenzana added.

“Soft loan” refers to financing with no interest or below market rate of interest,” Lorenzana said.

The Kilo-class submarines can be armed with a variety of torpedoes, missiles, and naval mines and has a cruising range of around 6,000 to 7,500 nautical miles.

Lorenzana revealed that the President wanted to buy two submarines from Russia and is also looking at South Korea as another source.

In the ASEAN region, Vietnam is known to operate six improved Kiloclass submarines in its fleet.

Lorenzana said the country is still looking at other possible submarine suppliers in Europe, including France, noting that the country’s submarine acquisition program, including possible suppliers, will be most likely finalized in the next 12 months.

“If this is approved, it will take them four years to make it, so it would be delivered after the term of the President,” Lorenzana added.

For an island nation like the Philippines, its defense can be considered incomplete without a fleet of submarines, the defense chief noted and an effective active submarine force is a great deterrent for would be aggressors due to its capability to travel underwater, giving it the element of surprise.

Russian Navy Chief Admiral Vladimir Ivanovich Korolev had earlier assured that Russia will support the upgrade program of the Philippine Navy (PN) in terms of training, maintenance, and sustainment of future acquisition, particularly its submarine acquisition project.