Philippine Army Eyes “Balanced Mix” In Artillery Modernization, Upgrade Plans

The Philippine Army is pursuing a “balanced mix” of artillery systems alongside plans to upgrade existing assets under its modernization program.

Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala was quoted as saying by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the service is not moving toward a single artillery type, stressing that platform choices depend on operational conditions. “Decisions between tracked, wheeled, or towed systems are typically based on terrain, infrastructure, and sustainment considerations,” he said, adding that “the PA aims for a ‘balanced mix’ rather than a complete shift to one type.”

Self-propelled artillery systems are capable of moving under their own power, enabling quicker repositioning during operations. The Philippine Army currently operates a combination of self-propelled, tracked, and towed 155mm howitzers, as well as 105mm howitzers, for fire support missions.

Dema-ala also confirmed plans to upgrade these artillery systems to improve their performance in modern combat environments, but said details could not be disclosed for security reasons. “Upgrades are all part of the proposal and until it is delivered to the Army, that is the only time we can discuss the details of the upgrades,” he said.