"SELF RELIANCE: A PILLAR FOR PEOPLE'S DEFENCE
AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE"
(First part)
AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE"
(First part)
It is true to say that despite being recognised as a nation, Independence has long eluded the Philippines. For contrary to the idea that historians recoognise its country's independece from different conquerors and despots alike, the concept of national independence or freedom may've not been fully understood.
For the fact that "independence for a homeland may be viewed as having the freedom to do what one thinks as right, just long as it takes into consideration the common good", it can also be viewed in the light of being self-sustaining, of without foreign countries intervening in the formation of domestic policies, conduct of negotiations, or even asserting agendas. What more that it can be interpreted as the will, capacity not to be overly dependent on foreign aid or supplier in terms of needs, thus limiting the control of foreigners in every aspect.
However, one would say that it would be impossible to be really independent. Especially in a time of words like multinationalism, regional unity, and other related themes neoliberals love to babble as such, countries would still have to rely on other nations for their needs which they cannot produce or "thinking that they cannot produce."- and such views may've often leads to overdependence, and overdependence would meant making countries be at the mercy of bigger ones- and the Philippines is one greater example as such.
For the fact that the Philippines' image as a weak and dependent country as clearly being shown by many, it is susceptible to being exploited from developed countries be it from the United States, China, Japan, and others whose unequal agreements may also meant a continuation of colonial policies. Having a weak and dependent country would be formed because of its weak foundation, what more of an imposed policy that hinders if not limits domestic development particularly those of industrialisation.
Expect apologists of multinational interests describing the idea as impossible or delusional as they insist production was being replaced by international capital, of borderless frontiers for easier trade and investment, it seems that the need for self reliance is almost impossible for both underdeveloped and developing countries since cheap goods would suffice their needs- but at what expense? Local technologies? Local knowledge? The idea of self reliance for them is deemed impossible in an era of free or cheap goods and capital, "let the invisible hand decide the policies concerning trade, production, and the need for knowledge and capital" as what they blurted on, the way they justify multilateral trade agreements some of which deemed as unjust or unequal.
What more that there are countries which the Philippines cultivated its relations having intense competitions such as between China and the United States. Apologists may dismiss it as such as they stress their distorted version of an "independent foreign policy"; but the possibility of experiencing friction with other countries and this would also result to a crisis. As expeienced several years ago, crises in the country discouraged businessmen from investing- hence creating a great imbalance in the national economy.
But come to think of this, as they shrug the thought of their rival's "nationalist" stance this may lead to overdependence, and overdependence on other countries meant making those countries, particularly the developed ones having the upper hand in policies concerning trade and investment. And this would give an adverse effect on the integrity of an importing and capital hungry country like the Philippines. What more that with the country having an image of a weak, maldeveloped, dependent entity is all due to having weak foundations such as a less developed agricultural and industrial sector regardless of its domestic knowledge and skill, and thus affect in matters of national defence such as depending heavily on neighbors for materiel, weapons, and armor. Or as according to Danilo Lao and Juanita Mercader: "An image of a weak and dependent country would be formed because socially, economically and militarily speaking, the said country does not have a solid foundation and it cannot stand on its own. Other countries would look down on the nation's capabilities thereby affecting its trade and social relations with other countries."
What more that there are countries which the Philippines cultivated its relations having intense competitions such as between China and the United States. Apologists may dismiss it as such as they stress their distorted version of an "independent foreign policy"; but the possibility of experiencing friction with other countries and this would also result to a crisis. As expeienced several years ago, crises in the country discouraged businessmen from investing- hence creating a great imbalance in the national economy.
But come to think of this, as they shrug the thought of their rival's "nationalist" stance this may lead to overdependence, and overdependence on other countries meant making those countries, particularly the developed ones having the upper hand in policies concerning trade and investment. And this would give an adverse effect on the integrity of an importing and capital hungry country like the Philippines. What more that with the country having an image of a weak, maldeveloped, dependent entity is all due to having weak foundations such as a less developed agricultural and industrial sector regardless of its domestic knowledge and skill, and thus affect in matters of national defence such as depending heavily on neighbors for materiel, weapons, and armor. Or as according to Danilo Lao and Juanita Mercader: "An image of a weak and dependent country would be formed because socially, economically and militarily speaking, the said country does not have a solid foundation and it cannot stand on its own. Other countries would look down on the nation's capabilities thereby affecting its trade and social relations with other countries."
And despite sensing the effects of overdependence, it is not claimed that being totally self-reliant is the best solution. But dependence on other countries can, or rather say must be minimised and thus proved to be feasible through the results of in depth studies that have been done. With the support of local enterprises, of domestic scientists, and having sufficient natural resources, labor power would say that chances of minimising outside aid through self reliance meant chances of encouraging development as opposed to the established view.
Yet this time, the question would be this: will the national government dare to take the idea of promoting self reliance in the economy? Whereas people tried to insist the idea that change should start from an individual's initiative, so should the community in improving, building foundations of a stable, sustainable economy. In countries like the former Soviet Union for example, it took years for them, with hard political will to steer out from being a maldeveloped agrarian country to become an industrialised power. It did allow foreign investment and knowledge for a time being, but the heavier role goes in the initative of the people in promiting development. Same goes in China, Korea, Vietnam.
With this kind of initiative would say that countries with sufficient resources, labor power, and knowledge, if been mobilised as such dispels the thought of overdepending on developed countries, whose policies may hath meant forcing the underdeveloped not to proceed in its course in exchange for substantial aid or investment.
Looking examples from other countries
Argentina
In Argentina for instance, its Armed Forces, all despite having few domestic enterprises focusing on manufacturing firearms and to some extent a shipyard for making Avisos, were mostly depend on foreign materiel that mostof which came from Germany; but despite its initial dependence, what more of its prevailing neutral policy durig the Second World War, the Argentines themselves compelleth to be self-reliant by improving its existing defence industry and also to circumvent the embargo that the Allies imposeth on them all due to suspicion of Axis sympathies.
That in 1942, a certain Lieutanant Colonel named Alfredo Baisi of the Argentinian Armed Forces once designed a locally-made tank in order to provide the country its own armor rather than depending on outside suppliers such as the United States. The Nahuel, although infuenced by the M4 Tank of the United States, was itself a local design with its parts domestically made.
However after WW2, the Argentinian government hath decided that by buying surplus tanks like the Sherman from the United Kingdom would be "more economical" than mass-producing the Nahuel. Along with discontinuing the manufacture of the Argentine-made plane the Pulqui, the reliance on foreign-made armor took decades for the country to revisit self-reliance in the defence industry until the 1970s through its Tanque Argentino Mediano (TAM) program. But, prior to the program the Argentines, still carrying the sense of ingenuity, did afford to "improve" foreign armor such as by upgunning their Shermans with a 105mm gun and by replacing its engine with a French Poyaud 520 V8 Diese engine. But that "repotenciado" was a stop-gap solution as the country could not produce in sufficient numbers the TAM to match Chile's M-50s, M-61s, and M-60s among others.
El Salvador
So was in El Salvador. Like the Philippines would say that the first impression would be that the small, country as incapable of development, given its reliance on agriculture, commerce, and tourism for economic purpose. Initially, Salvadoran Defence was primarily underdeveloped and reliant on countries like the United States, and on some cases, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom when it comes to procuring arms and armor- such as using the WW2-era Stuart tank which was used during a brief conflict with Honduras along with "Rayo" and "Nina" armored vehicles which were converted from US-made M35 Reo 2.5 ton utility truck.
However, as domestic issues like the insurgency then brewing (that eventually became a civil war), coupled with arms embargo led by U.S. President Carter in the 1970s, the Salvadoran government (initally led by a military Junta, followed by a right-wing civilian government) compelleth itself to be self-reliant through a series of improvised armored vehicles. For such a small and poor country, the Salvadorans showed an incredible degree of ingenuity by converting tracked woodmaster log-dragging vehicles (based from an M114 APC) from Guatemala into armored vehicles. That, under the direction of Captain Oswaldo Marenco, those vehicles were modeled somewhat after the German UR-416s, and underwent continual design changes in order to suit the needs of the security situation in El Salvador. These vehichles did mounted a variety of weapons and later, some of which were fitted with anti-RPG mesh armor around its sides providing the vehicle with extra protection.
But by the 1980s, and with the civil war raging, improvision did continue its domestic development of armored vehicles such as the creation of "Mazinger Z" armored trucks (which based off an International Harvester built vehicle), followed by "Astroboy" Armored Personnel Carrier (based from a Ford F250 pick-up truck), and other locally-made vehicles that again, converted from trucks.
In fairness for the names "Astroboy" and "Mazinger Z", for it did showed that Japanese animation was also known in El Salvador for a time being, and hence became names for military vehicles.
Biafra
The former country Biafra also shared alot of expertise in technological achievements. That regardless of their defeat during the Nigerian Civil War (or Biafran War of Independence as others would say), Biafrans did afford to create their own arms technology from their Reasearch and Production Organization (RAP). Its series of weapons systems, known as Ogbunigwe, includes detonation mines, improvised explosive devices, and rocket propelled missiles, all mass produced between 1967 to 1970. At first impression would say that the Biafrans were poorly equipped as opposed to its enemies, but to think that other than the weapons captured from the Nigerian armed forces, of limited support from it sympathisers, there were Biafran scientists, prominently from the University of Biafra, formed the Research and Production Organization which included a Weapons research and production group. It was the aim and purpose of the group to develop an indigenous arms industry and they soon started with the production of ammunition, grenades and armoured cars. Their most effective and infamous product was the Ogbunigwe of which there were different types in various sizes.
And engineers like Gordian Ezekwe, Benjamin Nwosu, and Willy Achukwu were instrumental in the design and production of the weapons. This weapon was then used by an unknown major Jonathan Uchendu to wipe out the entire 2nd division of the nigerian army on march 31 1968, killing more than 5900 soldiers of the army leaving Nigerian officer Murtala Mohammed and a few soldiers to narrowly escape then proceeded on a self imposed exile to Britain until the end of the war.
It was also used to halt the advance of the nigerian army during the operation that reduced the size of the 3rd Marine Commando commanded by Nigeria's Benjamin Adekunle from 35000 to a mere 300 soldiers.
Though the initial Ogbunigwe was a rocket propelled ground to air missile, later in the war, all Biafran produced explosive devices produced by the RAP became known as Ogbunigwe or Ojukwu bucket in popular language. Some of the specific types of Ogbunigwe that can be identified include the following:
Argentina
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| Nahuel Tank (Source: Wikipedia) |
That in 1942, a certain Lieutanant Colonel named Alfredo Baisi of the Argentinian Armed Forces once designed a locally-made tank in order to provide the country its own armor rather than depending on outside suppliers such as the United States. The Nahuel, although infuenced by the M4 Tank of the United States, was itself a local design with its parts domestically made.
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| Sherman "repotenciado" (Source: Tanks Encyclopedia) |
El Salvador
So was in El Salvador. Like the Philippines would say that the first impression would be that the small, country as incapable of development, given its reliance on agriculture, commerce, and tourism for economic purpose. Initially, Salvadoran Defence was primarily underdeveloped and reliant on countries like the United States, and on some cases, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom when it comes to procuring arms and armor- such as using the WW2-era Stuart tank which was used during a brief conflict with Honduras along with "Rayo" and "Nina" armored vehicles which were converted from US-made M35 Reo 2.5 ton utility truck.
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| International Harvester-based "Mazinger Z" Armored Truck (From Tanks Encyclopedia) |
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| "Astroboy" Armored Truck using Ford F250 pickup (from Tanks Encyclopedia) |
In fairness for the names "Astroboy" and "Mazinger Z", for it did showed that Japanese animation was also known in El Salvador for a time being, and hence became names for military vehicles.
Biafra
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| A rocket type "Ogbunigwe" created by the Biafran RAP |
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| Flying Ogbunigwe Rocket Launcher |
It was also used to halt the advance of the nigerian army during the operation that reduced the size of the 3rd Marine Commando commanded by Nigeria's Benjamin Adekunle from 35000 to a mere 300 soldiers.
Though the initial Ogbunigwe was a rocket propelled ground to air missile, later in the war, all Biafran produced explosive devices produced by the RAP became known as Ogbunigwe or Ojukwu bucket in popular language. Some of the specific types of Ogbunigwe that can be identified include the following:
- Flying Ogbunigwe (rocket): multi purpose non guided rocket propelled missile, initially intended as ground-to-air missile, later converted for use as ground-to-ground, ground to ship missile and Anti-tank missile. Although produced in different sizes and calibers, the missiles were generally about 2 meters long, 33 cm in diameter, electrically ignited, propelled by rocket fuel and launched from a specially constructed launch pad or stand. They carried a conventional high explosive warhead with a design based on the Munroe effect. Smaller calibres were mounted for launch in series on platforms similar to the Russian Katyusha rocket launcher and used by the Biafrans in place of artillery.
- Foot Cutter Ogbunigwe (Landmine): inter-spaced, Knee high lead pipes filled with explosives and shrapnel detonated electrically.
- Bucket Ogbunigwe (landmine): cone filled with explosives and shrapnel, triggered by wire or command detonated.
- Coffin box Ogbunigwe (landmine): larger version of the bucket Ogbunigwe.
- Beer Ogbunigwe (grenade): a bottle filled with shrapnel and explosives, detonates on impact.
| "Biafran Pot" |
Furthermore, Biafrans did afford to create semblance of technological achievements such as utilising oil for fuel. One of which was a heavily crafted crude oil refining column popularly called Biafran pot. Its creation did also shown the precision of the welds and metal quality being used in the creation of these refining columns used in the manufacture of fuel. Over Hundreds of these were manufactured, along with series of piping manifolds, that brought refined oil such as diesel, kerosene, and aviation fuel for both public and private use.
Pardon to cite these countries as an examples, for instead of looking at developed countries like Japan or China, these examples, no matter they are not so "progressive" as those developed ones would say that they "did their best" in promoting self reliance in their national defence. Argentina, although at some cases opted to procure weaponry from other countries, did afford to create their own weaponry especially in pursuit of promoting independence. So is El Salvador that taketh the idea of self-reliance with a grain of salt given a small and poor country; what more of Biafra- that despite being defeated by the Nigerian army with immense foreign support it proved that these Biafrans not just took the action with a grain of salt but also showed its mettle through its own technology.
Frankly speaking, the Philippines would hath been showing its mettle the way its people been taking pride in its sportsmen; it did have a "Self Reliance Defence Posture" program which includes the production of Defence systems like "Project Santa Barbara", the right to manufacture M16s, or even the creation of domestic armor like its experimental "Hari Digma"; but, in having an order that's overdepending on foreign sources like the United States would say how come the Philippines chose to be that way whilst a former country Biafra afforded to be self-reliant with such seriousness through its Ogbunigwe and its Biafran Pot? They did have minimal support tho such as from Spain or France, but their willingness to fight requires the will to forge through utilising its own resources and labor power for their national benefit, if not survival. The Salvadoran and Biafran experiences also meant facing odds in addressing their problems regarding lack of weaponry, armor, caused either by an imposed embargo or a lack of modern weaponry compared to a much greater one like Nigeria.
But, with ingenuity, with skill and knowledge meant transforming, even refurbishing the old just to make it work and bring result.
How about the Philippines?
The Philippines has its own program known as the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP). Initiated in 1974, the SRDP took the development of a domestic defense industry as its objective.
Prior to the program, the idea about self-reliance or self-sufficiency in National Defence was attempted long before the SRDP. The basic policy governing the program can be found in Commonwealth Act No. 138, known as the Flag Law, with requiress preference for locally manufactured items in the procurement of supplies even if they cost up to 15% higher than importing the said items. And in 1948, the Armed Forces of the philippines hath established the Research and Development Centre as part of its long path to self-sufficiency through studying the local manufacture of ammunition. Those studies resulted to the enactment of Republic Act No. 1884, dated 1957, which provided the creation of the Government Arsenal, for the purpose of manufacturing ammunition for small arms and to some extent weapons repair.
However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, ever since from its early years after the enactment of the Commonwealth Act No. 1 (the National Defence Act), received a good number of Defense Equipment from the United States under the RP-US Defense Assistance Agreement of 1947. The acquisition of these equipment was funded out of a US aid grant called the Foreign Military Funding (FMF) -- the fund used to name what otherwise would have been payment for the use of Philippine land to house bases. Acquisition of military hardware was sourced solely from the U.S. government through a system called the Foreign Military Sales (FMS). With these funds and systems in place, U.S. Defense Industries monopolized the inventory of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
But as the Philippines experiences the ill effects of foreign intervention, and the ever-changing setting in foreign relations, thus increases its need for an independent foreign policy. This policy would then truly protects the nation's interests, its sobvereignty, from the control of foreign nations. In relation to this, its main thrusts that led to the need for a self reliant defence capability is to develop a capability for chartering an independent foreign policy and setting foundations of economic development. Some would even seriously undertake industrialisation to utilise resources and labour power, knowledge for national development. But this is hoped to be achieved by limiting the nation's dependence on its allies and outside support for economic and defence requirements.
Thus, this self reliant capability relies primarlily on developing domestic, as in in-country manufacturing capabilities and utilising to the fullest domestic resources, labour power, and knolwedge as source of the country's needs in a program. Through the SRDP, Defense officials contracted projects with the government arsenal and local manufacturers, encouraging the use of indigenous raw materials and production capacity. Projects included domestic production of small arms, assorted ammunition, telecommunications equipment, to those of rocketry and armored vehicles. Thus, the SRDP not only tried to create self-reliance, but also cut costs, provided jobs, and saved much-needed foreign-exchange funds.
Examples of the projects and prototypes produced through the SRDP program are as follows :
Frankly speaking, the Philippines would hath been showing its mettle the way its people been taking pride in its sportsmen; it did have a "Self Reliance Defence Posture" program which includes the production of Defence systems like "Project Santa Barbara", the right to manufacture M16s, or even the creation of domestic armor like its experimental "Hari Digma"; but, in having an order that's overdepending on foreign sources like the United States would say how come the Philippines chose to be that way whilst a former country Biafra afforded to be self-reliant with such seriousness through its Ogbunigwe and its Biafran Pot? They did have minimal support tho such as from Spain or France, but their willingness to fight requires the will to forge through utilising its own resources and labor power for their national benefit, if not survival. The Salvadoran and Biafran experiences also meant facing odds in addressing their problems regarding lack of weaponry, armor, caused either by an imposed embargo or a lack of modern weaponry compared to a much greater one like Nigeria.
But, with ingenuity, with skill and knowledge meant transforming, even refurbishing the old just to make it work and bring result.
How about the Philippines?
The Philippines has its own program known as the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP). Initiated in 1974, the SRDP took the development of a domestic defense industry as its objective.
Prior to the program, the idea about self-reliance or self-sufficiency in National Defence was attempted long before the SRDP. The basic policy governing the program can be found in Commonwealth Act No. 138, known as the Flag Law, with requiress preference for locally manufactured items in the procurement of supplies even if they cost up to 15% higher than importing the said items. And in 1948, the Armed Forces of the philippines hath established the Research and Development Centre as part of its long path to self-sufficiency through studying the local manufacture of ammunition. Those studies resulted to the enactment of Republic Act No. 1884, dated 1957, which provided the creation of the Government Arsenal, for the purpose of manufacturing ammunition for small arms and to some extent weapons repair.
However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, ever since from its early years after the enactment of the Commonwealth Act No. 1 (the National Defence Act), received a good number of Defense Equipment from the United States under the RP-US Defense Assistance Agreement of 1947. The acquisition of these equipment was funded out of a US aid grant called the Foreign Military Funding (FMF) -- the fund used to name what otherwise would have been payment for the use of Philippine land to house bases. Acquisition of military hardware was sourced solely from the U.S. government through a system called the Foreign Military Sales (FMS). With these funds and systems in place, U.S. Defense Industries monopolized the inventory of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
But as the Philippines experiences the ill effects of foreign intervention, and the ever-changing setting in foreign relations, thus increases its need for an independent foreign policy. This policy would then truly protects the nation's interests, its sobvereignty, from the control of foreign nations. In relation to this, its main thrusts that led to the need for a self reliant defence capability is to develop a capability for chartering an independent foreign policy and setting foundations of economic development. Some would even seriously undertake industrialisation to utilise resources and labour power, knowledge for national development. But this is hoped to be achieved by limiting the nation's dependence on its allies and outside support for economic and defence requirements.
Thus, this self reliant capability relies primarlily on developing domestic, as in in-country manufacturing capabilities and utilising to the fullest domestic resources, labour power, and knolwedge as source of the country's needs in a program. Through the SRDP, Defense officials contracted projects with the government arsenal and local manufacturers, encouraging the use of indigenous raw materials and production capacity. Projects included domestic production of small arms, assorted ammunition, telecommunications equipment, to those of rocketry and armored vehicles. Thus, the SRDP not only tried to create self-reliance, but also cut costs, provided jobs, and saved much-needed foreign-exchange funds.
Examples of the projects and prototypes produced through the SRDP program are as follows :
- M16 Assault Rifle Projects (Extension)
M16 Rifle and its derivatives
The basic weapon of the AFP. In 1974, a Filipino company was commissioned by the Republic to manufacture the M16 assault rifles through technology transfer based on a license and a technical assistance agreements between the Philippines and the manufacturer. In the original contract a total volume of 150,000 rifles and spares equivalent to 22,500 1·ifles were manufactured and delivered. Due to the need of more M16 rifles, an extension contract of 60,000 rifles was awarded to a Filipino manufacturer.
Raw materials, production supplies and production equipment are provided by the Government, while this Filipino manufacturer does the manufacturing for the AFP. As of now, there are enough materials for the manufacture of 10,000 rifles. This Filipino manufacturer has delivered 10,203 rifles in CY88. The total contract cost of the project is Php240.544M. (as of 1987).
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| AR18 Rifle (Armalite) |
- Armalite Rifle Project
A new project which incorporates modifications into the AR18 rifle of armalite that were adopted with the purpose of making it more convenient to the Filipino soldier. License, technology, equipment and manufacturing devices have been transferred from abroad to the Philippines. Twenty (20) prototypes of the AR 101, AR 102, AR 103 and AR 104 were manufactured in-country and have passed the AFP test and evaluation. To date, AFP has paid US$17.960M out of US$18.50M contract cost. Three thousand five hundred AR Series 100 rifles have been approved for production and the required supplies and materials are being procured to support the production.
- The M653-ELISCO-Colt rifle
Known as the "Baby Armalite" during the mid 70's, Elisco Tools and Manufacturing Company (ELISCO) produced the M16A1 rifle as part of the SRDP program.
This Philippine made M16's sported a round and ribbed hand guard and a two position telescopic butt. A departure from the triangular hand guard of the earlier version of the rifle.
M16A1 Rifle ("Baby Armalite")
Much shorter than the M16 A1 but longer than the CAR15, the Elisco baby armalite's 14 and a half inch barrel gave it longer range while also making it suitable for close quarter engagements. It did bridged the gap between the rifle and the sub machine gun, allowing inter operational ability within a single platform. With that variant, it became the preferred rifle for urban warfare.
Exported to Israel during the early 80's, the Israel Defence Forces introduced further improvements like the 6 position telescopic butt, flat top pica-tinny rails and advance optics. Eventually, the rifle morphed into the M4A1, which oddly enough was only adopted by the U.S. armed forces in 1994.
- M3 Gen2 (Improved version of the "Grease Gun")
Known as the "Grease Gun" during the Second World War, the M3 Submachine gun is known to be a simple, cheap to produce, and workable type of weapon. However, as most countries gave up M3, the Philippines still uses the old machine gun and even upgraded as armorers outfitted their old M3s with a red dot, a suppressor and a new paint job.
The M3 SpecOps Generation 2, also known as the M3 Gen2 or PN/PMC M3, is a modified, modern incarnation of the M3 grease gun built from pre-existing caches of the 1940s-era weapon.
M3 Generation 2 Submachine Gun
Equipped with an integral suppressor and a Picatinny rail, the weapon is able to mimic some of the capabilities of modern submachine guns on a very tight budget. The weapon is chambered with the .45-caliber ACP bullet, which was itself developed as a U.S. counter to tough, close quarters jungle battles with Philippine insurgents more than a century ago. Modern optics ranging from reflex sights to thermal imagers can be added to the weapon via the Picatinny rail, and the suppressor means that the subsonic .45 caliber bullets fired by the weapon lack both the supersonic “crack,” which occurs when high velocity rounds such as the M-16’s 5.56 breaks the sound barrier, and the notorious “blam” of igniting gunpowder.
The M3 is used primarily for ship seizures and boarding operations, and is the Philippine navy’s method of "teaching an old dog new tricks"as it provides a viable alternative to modern, hard-hitting submachine guns at a fraction of the price seen in current generation weapons.
- Hari-Digma Armored Personnel Carrier
The Hari-Digma APC was a project of the AFP Logistics Command (LogCom) in the 90s to create a locally-manufactured version of the V-150 APC. LogCom developed two, local prototypes, which has a US-made engine and locally manufactured components, cost per unit was Php 3 M as to the V-150's Php 9 M price tag. The project was abandoned after the Philippine Army decided to order GKN Sankey's Simba ACV.
- The Kalakian (Water Buffalo) APC
The Kalakian is a locally built wheeled APC which was designed as a larger, improved, local version of GKN's Simba APC. Developed in the early 2000s as a joint project between PA's Light Armored Brigade (later Light Armored Division) and Steelcraft Industries Inc. (Maker of "Hari Digma"), from Manila, Philippines.This prototype vehicle, which was presented to the Light Armored Brigade in December 2002 featured a one-man turret and rear gunner's position. The vehicle used a commercially available transmission and other commercial vehicle components, all intended to reduce unit cost. The vehicle had an armored hull with the same thickness as the Simba (12mm) equipped with two side doors and one rear door. It can accommodate up to twelve fully equipped troops. Capable of mounting a larger turret and a heavier weapons system, the design was conceived to reflect the experience of using the Simba in actual combat operations, including having two side doors instead of the Simba's single one. The turret was a modification of the Cadillac Gage 1-meter turret found on V-150 armored cars also in service in the Philippines. This turret was also produced in a modified form in the Philippines by the Floro International Corporation. The major difference was the incorporation of an additional element allowing for the turret to be armed with a .50 caliber machine gun, 40mm automatic grenade launcher, and 7.62mm machine gun. The Cadillac Gage turret could only be armed with 2 of those weapons at any time. On V-150 and Simba vehicles the 40mm grenade launcher was often added to the top of the turret. This required the gunner expose themselves. The modified turret allowed all the weapons to be fired from within the turret.
Apparently the PA ordered 20 units, the status currently which is unknown, most are showpieces in static Army displays. The prototype vehicle was said to have cost the Philippine government Php 8 M.
- Defiant Project
The Defiant was a prototype plane for a trainer and light attack aircraft that was developed by Capt. Panfilo Villaruel and the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation in 1981 as part of a plan to reduce dependence on second-hand aircraft for the Philippine Air Force (PAF). This plan, called the "Norlindo Program", covered a progressive development of a high-perfomance trainer for the PAF, and it encourages the need for a locally-designed aircraft and the utilisation of local materials.The Defiant 300 prototype as the aircraft was called, was a composite construction consists of wood and fiberglass, and was powered by a 300 hp Lycoming piston engine. It was also a mishmash of technical arrangement of various systems and parts taken from different types of aircraft in the PAF inventory. Its landing gears, flight controls and flaps motor were taken from the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor, seats from the Cessna U-17B, rudder and brake pedals from the Boeing-Stearman PT-13 and various instrument items from the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, T-34 Mentor, Sikorsky S-76 and SIAI-Marchetti SF.260. all provided by the PAF.
The intent of the program was to provide the PAF with a trainer and light strike aircraft similar in performance to the Brazil’s Tucano. It was flew twice, the first was on February 22, 1988. From its successful flight the Defiant project came out to be an excellent collaborative effort of a group of aeronautical engineers, aviation enthusiasts, government agencies and research institutions. The plane was also meant to be followed by an another prototype of a modified Defiant (appropriately named Defiant 500) this time, an all-metal airframe and power rating increased to 500 hp.
However, due to lack of financial support from the government, the plan was cancelled.
- XL-14 Maya
Designed by Antonio de Leon during the early 1950s, this locally-made aircraft was part of a programme of research and study to investigate the possibilities of aircraft construction in the Philippines, the Institute of Science and Technology (Originally as the "Bureau of Science" and part of the former "National Science Development Board") designed and built the XL-14 Maya with the objective of testing the application of local materials, such as home-grown woods, plywood and bamboo.
This aircraft is a three seated experimental monoplane that was suitable for agricultural uses, general utility duties and observation. It is a high-wing monoplane powered by a 100h.p. Lycoming O-235-2 driving a two-bladed wooden airscrew. Top speed is 115 m.p.h. and its range is 300 miles. Service ceiling is 12,500 ft.
- XL-15 Tagak
Also created by Antonio de Leon of XL-14 Maya, a second aircraft, known as the XL-15 Tagak, was developed this time as a joint project of the Institute of Science and Technology and the Philippine Air Force, and had been undergoing flight evaluation tests since October 1954.Powered by a 190-h.p. Lycoming O-425A engine, the Tagak is a general purpose monoplane which can be used for ambulance duties, and two stretchers and a medical attendant can be carried. Alternatively the Tagak can seat four persons. Its structure was was made entirely of local woods, plywood, and "Wobex" (Woven Bamboo Experimental, which is a form of reinforced woven bamboo). One of its salient features was the pod and twin-boom layout of the Tagak that appears unmistakable in the air. Its fuselage is angular while cabin and rear fuselage have large transparencies. The high-mounted wing is of constant chord, and tapers sharply on the trail ing edge and slightly on the leading edge.
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In fact there are more prototypes and creations in which showcases the Filipino's capacity for self-reliance. Pardon if these are "made for war" but whether it is refurbished or entirely made out of local materials, these are driven by the thought that the Filipino cannot just rely on handouts nor compelling to buy expensive foreign-made materiel all for the sake of bolstering its defences or keeping the country having a local alternative to foreign imports.
And amittingly speaking, this note was made out of reading materials regarding the need for self-reliance in the defence industry. Some of which were taken online or from notes that capture the thought of promoting self-reliance. It is quite interesting at first, while at the same time getting concerned all for knowing that there were instances that hinders its development, what more of seeing people who trieth to block the idea that's for the national interest. For sure everyone wishes industrialisation, but why is it the country remained reluctant to industrialise? For sure that industrialisation may hath helped further in creating new means which can further develop the country.
But this self-reliance doesn't mean harboring xenophobic tendencies as others may think of. In fact external assistance (including foreign investment) is allowed, although subsidiary and in according to law so as not to hinder the domestic development that's meant to be initiated and benefited by the Filipino.
And amittingly speaking, this note was made out of reading materials regarding the need for self-reliance in the defence industry. Some of which were taken online or from notes that capture the thought of promoting self-reliance. It is quite interesting at first, while at the same time getting concerned all for knowing that there were instances that hinders its development, what more of seeing people who trieth to block the idea that's for the national interest. For sure everyone wishes industrialisation, but why is it the country remained reluctant to industrialise? For sure that industrialisation may hath helped further in creating new means which can further develop the country.
But this self-reliance doesn't mean harboring xenophobic tendencies as others may think of. In fact external assistance (including foreign investment) is allowed, although subsidiary and in according to law so as not to hinder the domestic development that's meant to be initiated and benefited by the Filipino.
And knowing that the Philippines has its expertise in arms production and the capacity to develop its own vehicles or aircraft, then a concerned would ask: why not further cultivate it as opposed to the usual cycle of buying from abroad? Is it because higher officials benefited from buying expensive weaponries as opposed to making people work hard for the nation's development? For sure this kind of matter isn't limited to those of making weapons, but also in For sure kind of venture which requires the need for using both mind and sinew to create those achievements shouldn't be a matter of pride but rather a matter for which the country is meant to assert further its independence, of its own survival. Even Claro M. Recto, who belonged to a landed gentry, recognises the country's abundance in natural resources and sufficent labour power; yet to think that his Philippines was and is still dependent on external aid, he, as a patriot, stressed the need for domestic-based development particularly through industrialization, as he said:
"In the present age, economic development is, for all practical purposes, equivalent to industrialization. Stagnation and poverty are the alternative to industrialization... A predominantly agricultural economy garnished with a few minor industries spells poverty, unemployment, and the continuation of our colonial status, whereas industrialization and the eradication of the vestiges of a predominantly colonial agricultural economy is the only way out from underproduction, unemployment and poverty."
"In the present age, economic development is, for all practical purposes, equivalent to industrialization. Stagnation and poverty are the alternative to industrialization... A predominantly agricultural economy garnished with a few minor industries spells poverty, unemployment, and the continuation of our colonial status, whereas industrialization and the eradication of the vestiges of a predominantly colonial agricultural economy is the only way out from underproduction, unemployment and poverty."
And by citing the examples of the countries stated from above would say that it did taketh time to make those, some of which were made out of struggle, that sometimes require immense debate whether to proceed with the doing or not; but with goals such as "utilising resources", "creating jobs", "saving money", "promoting local use of foreign knowledge", and others this venture called self-reliance is more than just a key, but also a gateway to a multitude of developments that sustains a nation's need.