The Philippine Army (PA) is sustaining its transformation into a “digital army” as laid out by its commanding general, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., under the military’s modernization program by acquiring and mastering the use of cutting-edge technology in modern warfare.
On Wednesday, the military’s primary ground force showcased its upgraded capabilities in the area of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting Acquisition and Reconnaissance (C4ISTAR), which was witnessed by Brawner himself, other top military officials and Israeli representatives.
According to Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the demonstration of the Army’s capabilities in C4ISTAR operations was carried out by the PA’s Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Command and Control Communications, and Cyber Systems (OG6).
The integration demonstration by the PA of its recently acquired C4ISTAR, which include a new battle management system platform, was carried out at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, in coordination with officials of Israel’s Elbit Systems.
From howitzers to tanks, systems and technologies, Israel has been providing and sharing state-of-the art weapons and communications system to the Army, and even radar and missile systems to the Navy and Air Force.
Elbit Systems signed in 2019 a multimillion contract to help improve and upgrade the Army’ C4ISTAR proficiency in three components. The project also includes the delivery of unmanned aerial systems.
The use, operation and upgrading of the military’s C4ISTAR capability through the delivery of modern equipment were a major overall component of the Armed Forces of the Philippines revised modernization program.
Trinidad said that during the demonstration, the OG6 also simulated a tactical operations center by using C4ISTAR equipment.
Meanwhile, teams from the PA’s First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) and the Indonesian Army’s Komando Cadangan Strategis Angkatan Darat (Kostrad) continued to sharpen their interoperability and capabilities in a broad range of military operations in the ongoing Training Activity Indonesia-Philippines (TA DOLPHINE XIV-2022) in West Java, Indonesia.
Trinidad said the TA DOLPHINE XIV-2022, which is being held until July 24, focuses on the exchange of information, tactics, technics and procedures in counterinsurgency operations.
FSRR Chief of Staff Col. Samuel G. Yunque, during the staff exchange, discussed urban operations that focused on the Battle of Marawi, while Kostrad Deputy Intelligence Assistant Col. Muhammad Aidi shared lessons learned in their campaign against the Free Papua Separatist Movement in West Papua.
FSSR and Kostrad teams also shared lessons on tactical combat casualty care, which culminated in a mission-planning and raid practical exercise. Teams from both armies likewise held close-quarter battle drills.