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The Philippine Army (PA) announced Monday plans to acquire short-range air defense systems.

In a press conference, PA chief, Lieutenant General Roy Galido said its already in the budget of the PA since last year to acquire short-range air defense systems.

“And this is now in operation, meaning the mechanism to acquire it is being undertaken,” Galido added.

Galido said the Army is identifying platforms and capabilities to project its force within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the country in coordination with the Philippine Air Force and Navy.

“The Army is venturing into identifying platforms or capabilities that would enable the Army to project our force within the sovereignty of the country, which is the 200 NM EEZ in coordination or in support to the Navy’s and the Air Force’s capability development,” he said.

He added that the Army has yet to identify a specific type and manufacturer of the said short-range air defense systems that will be acquired.

“All of these are still under review and being tested. The template, I would say, would be based on the outcome of the first project the Navy has ventured into, the BrahMos. So we will take it from there because all of these are still a work in progress,” he said.

Aside from the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles reportedly delivered to the Philippines last year, reports said that India expects to sell short-range missiles to the Philippines this year in a deal that would exceed $200 million.

Reports added that the Akash missile system developed by India’s defense research body has drawn interest from the Philippines.

The Philippines reportedly made an order in the fiscal year that begins in April, according to the report.

The surface-to-air missile (SAM) system with a range of up to 25 km (16 miles) was exported to Armenia last year in a $230-million deal, sources said, adding the Philippine sale is expected to be bigger than the Armenian deal.

Asked if the Akash missile system is among the projects in the pipeline, Galido said “there’s nothing yet in the pipeline right now because, as I’ve said, financial consideration has to be well established before you put things in the pipeline.”

“Probably what we can put into the pipeline is the thought of research or market research,” he added.