"I was reading on a different Phil. military forum that the DND analysts decided not to buy the Maestrales because the long-term maintenance costs was going to be too high so the thinking now is to purchase 2 new frigates from SK with a budget of P18-B (or P9-B each)"Defenders of the Philippine Sabah & Spratly Claims: We say, good on the DND! However, the DND must perform due diligence on each and every major item in the AFP short list BEFORE issuing tons of press releases irresponsibly, eg., that they are buying this or that equipment only to change their mind after a 3-year relentless press campaign saying that they were eyeing, are going to buy, and about to sign contract for the said military hardware. This seems to be a pattern that DND officials past and present have adopted these last TWO decades.
No wonder, very very few world-class defence conglomerates take PH planners seriously: PH officials take the first defence proponent at their word to the detriment of other, perhaps, equally serious proponents, announce to the world that they've found their dream equipment, assure the Filipino people that they are about to sign the contract and then someone (perhaps a local influence peddler or a politician who has been approached by another proponent) meddles, says something or promises "better" things and BINGO, decision makers change their minds for the umpteenth time!
With that kind of modus operandi which, we must say, began in earnest 20 years ago, the AFP will never be able to upgrade let alone "modernize."
Plain amateurs!
Meanwhile, military planners are left holding an empty bag again.
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