Australian Naval Institute

15 February 2025

Source: https://navalinstitute.com.au/philippines-opts-for-two-submarines/

The Philippines has announced that the Navy will receive two submarines for the defense of the country’s archipelago in the largest and final stage of its military modernization program, Naval News reports.

“Hopefully, it’s a dream for us, to get at least two submarines,” stated Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Gen. Romeo Brawner, at a Management Association of the Philippines meeting on Wednesday.

The Southeast Asian nation, which has never operated a submarine and only began operating modern warships in the 2010s, has grappled with the procurement of attack boats amid its ongoing confrontation with Beijing in the South China Sea. 

Composed of around 7641 islands and a vast exclusive economic zone, the country’s Navy and Coast Guard have been stretched thin. Frigate, corvette, and offshore patrol programs have taken precedence in the Navy’s procurement since it kicked off modernization in 2016. 

Former Flag-Officer-in-Command, Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci, told Naval News in a 2024 interview that submarines were “not a priority.”

“I hope we can have submarines in the future, but presently it is not a priority. We have to beef up first our submarine detection systems, we have to beef up first our anti-submarine capability, our sensors, and even naval shipyards that should be able to maintain these submarines and our ships,” said Adaci.

In 2023, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told reporters that while submarines were “still part of our plan,” referring to Horizon Three of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, he also emphasized that the development of anti-submarine capabilities should be developed first before the country bought attack boats. 

“When the time comes and the conditions are agreeable then we might be able to acquire those submarines,” said Marcos.

Despite the need to contend with patrol duties in the Benham Rise, Luzon Strait, and South China Sea for presence missions against China’s assertive Ten-Dash Line claims, Submarines could prove useful for the Armed Forces of the Philippines in high-end operations. 

Horizon Three is reportedly focusing on these missions through its aspirations to procure more anti-ship missiles, warships, and fighter jets. Beginning in 2013, Horizons One and Two brought newer assets but failed to fully materialize a modernized force. 

To make up for these insufficient efforts, Manila has revised its last phase of modernization is expected to cost around $35 billion and increase in length from five to 15 years.

“We are an archipelago, so we have to have this type of capability. Because it’s really difficult to defend the entire archipelago without submarines,” said Brawner.

Among the contenders for the country’s long-running submarine program are French and South Korean shipbuilders Naval Groupand Hanwha Ocean. 

These proposals come with financing from Paris and Seoul to fund the comprehensive packages, which both include base construction, domestic maintenance facilities, and training. Spain’s Navantia is also proposing its S-80 submarine.

Hanwha Ocean told Naval News that it has offered two separate options, the new KSS-III PN or the older Ocean 1400PN, for the Philippine Navy depending on how much Manila is willing to spend. 

A company spokesperson stated that more comprehensive maintenance can be conducted on the Ocean 1400PNs in-country, while KSS-III PNs would have to return to facilities in South Korea. Full torpedo and mine complements would also be included in the package for Ocean 1400PNs.