AFP to get More Rifles Aside from 50,000 under modernization program

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MANILA, Philippines — Aside from the reported acquisition of 50,000 assault rifles amounting P2 billion pesos, AFP will be getting additional firearms to be acquired  for its modernization program. This acquisition is as part of military’s upgrade to increase their firepower capability.

AFP told the reporters that the brand new rifles will be supplied by the United States-based Remington Outdoor Company, which won the bidding for the acquisition in October last year. In a statement, the AFP said a total of 50,629
rifles were bought from the United States-based notable Remington Outdoor Company. Remington won the bidding of the said project in October 2013.

The contract cost the government P1.9 billion, which was taken outsourced from  the 2012 Capability Upgrade Program.

Of more than 50,000 rifles, the first batch of delivery comprising of  27,300 units will be given to the Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps. In July 5, one hundred of the rifles were delivered while the remaining 23,329 rifles are likely to be delivered in December of this year.

On this project, the  AFP will receive 50,629 M4 rifles, 44,186 of which would be issued to the Army and 6,443 to the Navy. Catapang said the distribution of the newly purchased rifles is a part of the government’s Joint Philippine Army – Philippine Marine Corps Assault Rifle Acquisition Project.

 With this particular project, the government has initially approved a total of P3.3 billion, while the actual cost is only P1.9 billion so there is more than 1.2 billion savings. In order the increase the level of AFPs confidence, Catapang said that the savings will be used for acquiring additional assault rifles.