AFP impressed by US missile system, mulls buying one

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) might consider purchasing a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to boost the country's defense system.

According to a report by Jun Veneracion in Balitanghali, top military officials were impressed by the HIMARS, which was used by during Tuesday's Balikatan live fire exercise in Tarlac.

The rocket launcher can fire missiles as far as 300 kilometers.

AFP Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, co-director of the annual Philippines-US Balikatan exercises, said that the HIMARS may be deployed in different areas in the country.

"Any threat, we can use that capability should we have one," Lopez said.

US military officials said that they can lend the HIMARS should the Philippines need it.

The AFP said that it's possible to purchase it as part of its modernization program.

The two-week Balikatan program will conclude on Friday.

About 8,000 Philippine and US troops participated in military exercises that aimed to improve humanitarian and maritime security procedures.

"This Balikatan is the biggest so far in terms of scope, scenario and the kind of equipment that both forces have put into it," Lopez said.

"Hopefully by next year, we can up with a better and much more bigger exercise, and hopefully we can get in more technologies, newer technologies and hardware for next year's exercise," he added. —NB, GMA News