MANILA — The Philippine Navy (PN) can always go for Thales Tacticos as the supplier of the combat management system of the two missiles-armed frigates but it has to spend more money for the brand.
This was stressed by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during the Senate hearing on the Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP) Monday.
But at this point, the DND cannot provide additional funds just to acquire combat management systems manufactured by Thales Tacticos.
Thales Tacticos is used by at least 23 navies while Hanwha is being utilized by two naval forces.
Earlier, Lorenzana said that using the abovementioned brand will hike the FAP cost to an additional USD14 million or USD7 million each for the two frigates being acquired from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).
The FAP has a contract of PHP18 billion, including its weapon systems and munitions.
Also, he said that Hanwha, the manufacturer preferred by HHI, can meet the specifications set by PN. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
