The Philippine Navy has upgraded a trio of offshore patrol vessels with a submarine detection capability as part of a strategy to deploy groups of warships for maritime defense and deterrence.
The deployment of “surface action groups” is a departure from previous employment of individual warships to protect marine interests, navy spokesperson Captain John Percie Alcos said last week.
“We will be veering away from the conduct of lone ship or ‘lone wolf’ operations, to the deployment of several warships at any given time,” he said.
“Now that we have a group of warships, which are (called) ‘surface action groups’ patrolling our seas, we can cover more of our areas and jurisdiction.”
Contested Waters
The task group is part of Manila’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, which calls for bolstering naval warfighting capabilities for the protection of the country’s exclusive economic zone and maritime territories.
The Philippines has seen tensions with China rise in the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea — Manila’s term for the part of the South China Sea that falls in its exclusive economic zone.
Beijing has engaged in a range of aggressive maneuvers to force Philippine vessels away from the disputed waterway, such as spraying water cannons, using high-intensity lasers, and conducting illegal patrols.
Surface Action Groups
Almost all of the warships of the naval task force are being equipped with anti-submarine warfare capabilities, which include detection, location, and, if necessary, sinking of hostile submarines.
The force includes two AW-159 “Wildcat” anti-submarine warfare helicopters and the BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30) corvette class donated by South Korea in 2019.
A pair of guided-missile frigates, which are slated to join the group, are fitted with sonar and anti-submarine weapons.
Additionally, two guided missile corvettes and six offshore patrol vessels being constructed in South Korea will join the task group.
