US TO SUPPLY 114, M113A2 ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS TO PHILIPPINES

The US Government has resolved to deliver 114, M113A2 armoured personnel carriers (APC) to the Philippines. The allocation will be executed as part of the Excess Defense Article Programme, which recommends the surplus defence equipment be reassigned to foreign governments or international organisations at a reduced price, or as a grant. The US delivered 77 units of M113A2 APC to help modernise the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The country paid around $1.4 million for the shipment of the APCs, reported DefenseNews. Philippine Army spokesman colonel Benjamin Hao was quoted by Associated Press as saying: “These will definitely help us improve our survivability, protection of our troops.”

The AFP is due to receive 37 units on December 14, 2015, with the remaining units expected to be delivered by the end of this month. The Philippines recently received 28 M113A2 vehicles from Israel. The country is set to receive used military equipment from both Korea and Australia, with Japan contemplating the request, reported the Wall Street Journal. The M113 is a military-tracked vehicle designed to transport 12 soldiers and a driver. It can also conduct amphibious operations, extended cross-country travel over rough terrain, and perform high-speed operations on improved roads and highways. More than 80,000 M113 vehicles are currently being used by at least 44 countries worldwide.