No torpedoing submarine plan

Mere days had passed after the Department of National Defense signaled a reboot of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Modernization Program when France and South Korea came knocking on the door to offer to develop our submarine force.

For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, the versatility and stealthiness of submarines make them ideal for a variety of missions, including intelligence gathering, deterrence, and actual combat. They can, likewise, protect valuable maritime assets and patrol sea lanes without being seen.

If the Philippines' plan to acquire submarines comes to fruition, it will send a strong message to the international community that it is committed to defending its sovereignty and maritime rights, which are currently being violated with impunity by China in the West Philippine Sea.

Last 14 September, French Ambassador-designate Marie Fontanel-Lassalle paid Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. an introductory call to reiterate her country's support for a credible defensive posture by the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to reports on the meeting between the envoy and Teodoro, an offer by French defense manufacturer Naval Group to fill the Philippines' shopping list for two to three submarines had been refreshed, including building a base for the modest fleet in Subic Bay.

The Philippine Navy had previously announced that Subic Bay would be its preferred location for the submarines that the Philippines has been planning to acquire since the Ramos presidency, a push that was put on hold by the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

As early as 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic put everything on hold, Filipino naval and defense officials had reviewed and found worthy of consideration the Scorpene diesel-electric submarine manufactured by France's Naval Group.

France, however, would have to fight it out with other bidders like Spain and South Korea, with the latter stepping up its push to supply the vessels that operate primarily under water. Last week, executives from South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean were in Manila to make a formal pitch for their newest Jang Bogo-III submarine.

The Korean offer, like France's, was a mere update, at the center of which is a 77-meter, 2,800-ton diesel-electric submarine with a beam of 9.7 meters. It boasts the latest propulsion system and lithium-ion battery technology that would allow it to operate longer.

Of course, acquiring submarines is not a cheap proposition. However, it is a necessary investment for the Philippines' national security. Experts have maintained that, in the long run, it will be cheaper to build a submarine force than to maintain a large surface fleet.

As Teodoro moves for the "re-horizoning" of the AFP Modernization Program, the Marcos administration may want to start from scratch any negotiations for military equipment that had been made during the two previous administrations. That is as it should be as the Philippines must choose the best updated and re-priced proposals from several countries.

As the submarine acquisition will demand a huge capital outlay, it is a must that the country shops wisely, not necessarily for the cheapest, but for what would fill its strategic and defensive needs. The acquisition process should be fully transparent and fair as it would involve taxpayer money, if not more foreign loans.

The acquisition of submarines — just like the purchase of planes, ships and tanks — by the Philippines would also necessitate investments in training and infrastructure to support the new force.

With increasing challenges from China in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines is being compelled by exigencies to put into motion Horizon 3 of the AFP Modernization Program to bolster its external defense capabilities.

There would be those who would oppose more military expenditures, but the Philippines, located as it is in one of the most problematic areas of the world, must be wise to prepare for its security. With the jets and surface ships that the country had procured under Horizons 1 and 2, having a few submarines is the logical next stop for a country of over 7,000 islands surrounded by water.

Any decision on which submarines to acquire should be based on a thorough assessment of each proposal's technical capabilities, cost effectiveness, and the long-term benefits they offer to the Philippine Navy. Transparency in the acquisition process is paramount to ensure that the chosen submarines meet the country's defense needs while adhering to its budgetary constraints.