Philippine News Agency reported that Russia’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Igor Khovaev, backed the Philippine Navy’s plans for a submarine fleet to ensure maritime protection.
“We are ready to help your country to become a submarine (power). We are willing to help you like [what we did in] Vietnam,” Khovaev said.
Russia provided six Kilo-class diesel-electric attack submarines to Vietnam.
The Philippine Navy inspected the Komsomolsk-Na-Amure Kilo-class submarine during its first-ever port visit to Vladivostok, Russia in October last year.
The submarines of the Kilo-class have a range of 6,000 nm to 7,500 nm.
The 73.8-meter–long ships have a displacement of 2,350 tons and can cruise at speeds of up to 20 knots.
They can be equipped with weapons such as torpedoes, missiles, and naval mines.
It was earlier reported that Russia is interested in providing the Philippine Navy with advanced versions of Kilo-class submarines through a soft loan arrangement.
In early October, Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command vice-admiral Robert Empedrad said that the Scorpène meets the navy’s submarine requirement.
The navy is favoring the French-made Scorpène for its “stealthy design, and good weapon and sonar capabilities.”
The Russian platform is also said to be larger and more expensive.
However, the Philippine Navy has not yet finalized its preferred platform for the submarine programme. The service plans to initially procure two submarines.
