It was included in the Combat Engineering Equipment Acquisition Project, which includes 2 lots for mine detection capabilities, and 3 lots for bridging capabilities.ġ.
The intention to improve mine detection capabilities, as well as emergency bridging capabilities were evident in the acquisition plans the Philippine Army has forwarded for priority implementation under the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program covering years 2018 to 2022. This was also evident during the Battle of Marawi where the Philippine Army was pinned down in crossing a river as terrorist snipers and machine gunners were position near an existing major concrete bridge, when the Philippine Army could have crossed the river somewhere else and create another front.Ī WFEL Dry Support Bridge launcher using an Iveco-made platform, with a simplified demonstration unit for the system. Major emergency bridging capabilities is another non-existent capability within the Philippine Army. With the experience in the Battle of Marawi in 2017 against ISIS-inspired terrorists that used IEDs and mines in urban combat operations, the Philippine Army may have realized the importance of having improved battlefield mine clearing capabilities to protect its troops in combat and non-combat / post-combat, and peacetime support operations.
It has not been given enough focus due to the limited cases on uses of mines in the Philippines after World War 2. Mine Clearing Operations have been part of the Philippine Army's capabilities for decades, but has been limited in terms of scale, complexity, and scope. The Philippine Army (PA) is expected to gain a new capability soon as it acquires new assets as part of its modernization program.
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