US Approves $126 Million Armed Assault Boats Sale to Philippines

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Philippines of Scout, Assault, and Light Support Boats along with armaments and sensors for an estimated cost of $126 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale Thursday.

The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy 36 9M Scout Boats (SB); 36 10M Assault Boats (AB); 18 16M Light Support Boats (LSB) along with the following armaments- 156 M240B 7.62x51mm machine guns, 24 M2A1 .50 caliber machine guns and 36 M134D-M, 7.62x51mm, 6-barrel rotary Gatling guns.

Also included are sensors and radios to be mounted on the boats including 36 units of Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) 280HD; 399 NFS-NVG/IR Lasers (AN/PVS-14 and AN/PEQ-15); 102 Thermal Imager Scope (handheld); 210 Heavy Thermal Weapon Sights (AN/PAS-13); 90 Harris Falcon III RF-7850M radios; 270 Harris Falcon III RF-7850S radios; boat spare parts; spare engines and engine components; safety and rescue equipment and others. The estimated cost is $126 million.

The proposed sale will improve the Philippines’ capability to meet current and future threats by force multiplying the Army’s present ability to operate and control both inland and coastal waterways of southern Philippines. 

The principal contractor for the Scout and Assault Boats will be Willard Marine Inc., Anaheim, CA.  The principal contractor for the Light Support Boat will be determined through an open competition contract.