The acquisition of a short-range missile system for the Philippine Army is still under review, considering the need to sustain the maintenance requirements of the platform, Army Commanding LtGen. Roy Galido said Monday.

In a press conference at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Galido said the procurement of a short-range missile system is a key element of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s broader strategy to enhance the nation's ability to protect its territory.

“It's part of the overall strategy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to build our capability to defend our territory, investing in missile systems that will project the Armed Forces' strength within our sovereignty and the interests of our country,” he told reporters.

Galido said the Army has already started identifying which missile platforms are suited for its operations related to external defense.

“Well, it is already in our appropriations, meaning in the budget of the Philippine Army, which was listed last year, that the Army will acquire short-range air defense systems. And this is now in operation, meaning the mechanism to acquire it is being undertaken,” he pointed out.

However, he underscored the need to focus on ensuring the long-term sustainability of the platform's maintenance requirements.

“We are always hindered by financial capability. As mentioned by the Chief of Staff, we're venturing into options because we just cannot commit to a project when we don't know how to sustain it,” he said.

Galido also emphasized that the specific brands or manufacturers of the missile systems have not yet been decided.

“As to the brand, we haven't identified a specific brand, but we focus on the platform and its capability. All of these are still being reviewed and tested. The template, or I would say, would be based on the outcome of the first project the Navy has ventured into, the BrahMos. So we will take it from there because all of these are still a work in progress,” he said.

A report published by an Indian media outlet, Adda 24/7 Current Affairs, on Monday mentioned that India is set to finalize a $200 million deal with the Philippines for its Akash surface-to-air missile system this year.

Asked if there’s ongoing discussion with the Philippine Army regarding the procurement of the Akash launcher, Galido said, "There’s no such plan at the moment."

“The Akash? We don't have that… There's nothing yet in the pipeline right now because, as I've said, financial considerations have to be well-established before you put things in the pipeline,” he said.

“Probably what we can put into the pipeline is research or market research. But when we say the pipeline, it means it’s already funded and the acquisition process has been put into action,” he added.

The Akash missile system is a versatile, medium-range surface-to-air missile capable of targeting various threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and air-to-surface missiles.

It is designed to safeguard moving convoys and offer critical defense in rapidly changing situations. It has a range of up to 25 kilometers and is armed with a 60 kg high-explosive warhead equipped with a proximity fuse.