The acquisition of submarine assets remains included in the wish list of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as part of its ongoing modernization program.

AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. stressed that the Philippines needs to acquire military assets operating in underwater environments, offering strategic advantages to securing the archipelago.

“There are no specifics yet, but we are considering that we will have submarines in our inventory in the future because we are an archipelago. We really need all types of assets that could protect the archipelago, and submarines are one of them,” Brawner told reporters in an ambush interview.

Brawner previously stated that the country is mulling the acquisition of additional naval assets and shore-based deterrents under the third phase (Horizon 3) of the AFP modernization program.

He also noted the country’s plan to procure multi-role fighters and improve military training for its personnel.

“For the third Horizon of the modernization program, we are looking at acquiring multi-role fighter aircraft, naval assets, command and control (C2) systems, shore-based deterrent capabilities, submarines, and the like,” he said.

The AFP modernization program was scheduled into three phases, with Horizon 1 completed from 2013 to 2017, Horizon 2 from 2018 to 2022, while Horizon 3 is scheduled between 2023 and 2028.

These procurement tranches are designed to acquire equipment, weapons systems, and platforms geared at enhancing the AFP’s external or territorial defense capability.