Philippines Eyeing Submarines, Helicopters and Small Arms Buy from Russia

Philippines is holding negotiations with Russia for the possible purchase of Project 636 conventional submarines, helicopter equipment and small arms, Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev has said.

"We are holding talks not only on this [submarines]. In general, we are now discussing the format of further work with the Philippines," Alexander Mikheyev was quoted as saying Tuesday by Tass on the sidelines of Army 2018 international military-technical forum.

The news agency also reported that Manila is interested in small arms, helicopters and automobile equipment.

 "We expect that the Philippine Ministry of Defense will be interested in our products, the products of military-technical corporations. These are helicopter equipment, small arms, and automobile equipment. That’s why we are conducting negotiations and we hope that we’ll have some preliminary results in the near future," Alexander said.

Project 636 submarines are considered to be the most noiseless from among Russian conventional subs. They have been dubbed the Black Hole for their unique quietness. They are furnished with modern radar and communications systems, the sonar, 533mm torpedoes and Kalibr cruise missiles.