09 August 2023
by Jon Grevatt & Andrew MacDonald
Total defence spending in the Philippines in 2024, including its core defence budget, will climb to more than USD6 billion, according to Janes Defence Budgets. (Janes Defence Budgets)
The Philippine government has proposed a core 2024 defence budget of PHP233 billion (USD4.1 billion). The budget represents a double-digit increase over the baseline allocation in 2023 and has been announced amid growing tensions between Manila and Beijing.
The new defence budget includes PHP144 billion for personnel expenses, PHP69 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses, and PHP17 billion for capital outlay. Funding for capital outlay does not include appropriations through the long-running Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program (RAFPMP).
Including the RAFPMP and other defence funding streams, Janes Defence Budgets assesses the total 2024 allocation for the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) could grow to more than PHP366 billion.
According to documents issued by the Philippine Department of Budget and Management, the 2024 defence budget provides the Philippine Army with nearly half the annual expenditure. The army will receive PHP121 billion or 52% of the baseline defence budget, with nearly PHP95 billion of this set aside for personnel expenses.
24 April 2024
by Jeremiah Cushman
Saab has developed an autonomy package for its CB 90 fast boat and demonstrated its ability to navigate the Swedish coast. Pictured above is a CB 90 that was delivered to Malaysia. (Dockstavarvet)
Saab has established a new business function to revamp how it develops and delivers products to meet changing customer requirements. Skapa, a Swedish word that means “to create, to make, or to shape”, will focus on solving customer and stakeholder problems at speed, Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab in the United States, told reporters on 23 April. “Skapa will accelerate the development and deployment of cutting-edge solutions to our warfighters” at pace, he said.
24 April 2024
by Giles Ebbutt
The XR Training consortium's USMC Amphibious Combat Vehicle driver simulator in its seat configuration with two DoF motion platform. The Vive HTC Elite headset is on the seat. The Instructor station laptop is on the table behind. (XR Training)
A consortium led by XR Training has been awarded a contract by the US Marine Corps (USMC) under an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to produce a driver training simulator for the new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). The value of the contract was not disclosed but Neil Levin, XR Training CEO, told Janes that it was “in the high seven-figure area”.
The consortium, which also includes Talon Simulations (hardware), 302 Interactive (software development), and Theory Studios (modelling and visuals), will deliver 81 simulators by the end of 2024, followed by a two-year training and sustainment period. Most simulators will be deployed to Camps Pendleton and Lejeune, with some for use for “schoolhouse” training and some for deploying units.
18 April 2024
by Jeremiah Cushman
Actual and planned Canadian defence spending by category from 2021–22 to 2026–27. (Janes)
The Canadian government released its fiscal year (FY) 2024 defence budget on 16 April. The document projects spending of CAD33.8 billion (USD24.6 billion) in 2024–25, including adjustments from the Budget 2023 Refocusing Government Spending Exercise and incremental funding in the 2024 budget, although it warns that forecast amounts may change as programmes move through implementation. This is an increase from the forecast CAD29.9 billion spending in 2023–24, according to the document.
The 2024–25 main estimates produced by the Treasury Board projected defence spending of CAD30.6 billion, a small increase from the latest spending estimate for 2023–24, which totalled CAD30.3 billion. This is a 14% increase over the initial 2023–24 main estimate of CAD26.5 billion, according to Treasury Board figures. Expenditures in 2022–23 totalled CAD26.9 billion.
The Philippine government has proposed a core 2024 defence budget of PHP233 billion (USD4.1 billion)...
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