r/PhilippineMilitary

🇵🇱🇵🇭 | Polish President Karol Nawrocki and the First Lady have arrived in Manila. The first-ever State Visit by a Polish President in the Philippines, which will take place from October 5 to 8, 2026. He will meet President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to discuss defense industry cooperation.

The Philippine Air Force is now the largest operator of the S-70i Black Hawk helicopters in the world, acquired from Poland's PZL Mielec. And few months ago, the Philippine delegation and PZL Mielec discussed the possibility of co-production of S-70i Black Hawk helicopters.

Hopefully this will also be discussed, since recently Poland is considering to sell their 20 HIMARS rocket system, in favor of buying and producing more HOMAR-K / Polish version of Chunmoo MLRS. Hopefully, they will sell the HIMARS to the Philippines, of course it would most likely need the US' approval.

"Theoretically, one might have expected that in the event of a Russian invasion, the Polish Army could utilize the U.S.-held stockpiles of all HIMARS-compatible rocket and missile types—specifically ATACMS and PrSM. However, these stocks have been depleted following intense combat operations in the Middle East. As Defense Express reported, While U.S. does not allow production of rockets for HIMARS, Poland to produce ammunition for its analogue - K239 HOMAR-K.

Against this backdrop, the idea emerged that the Polish Army’s HIMARS units were essentially "white elephants" that would be better off sold. Currently, all HIMARS MLRS units are consolidated within the 1st Missile Brigade, which reports directly to the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces."

It was also reported last month, that Poland is seeking new defence partnerships with the Philippines, a senior foreign ministry official said, after completing the delivery of S-70i Black Hawk ‌helicopters to the Philippine Air Force.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, who was in Manila for annual political consultations with the Philippines, said Poland is investing nearly $50 billion for its defence industry and could sell military hardware ⁠abroad, including to the Philippines.

Bartoszewski said Poland could sell both reconnaissance and fighting drones, radar equipment, anti-aircraft missiles and armored personnel carriers. A Philippine military delegation recently visited Poland to look into equipment that Manila can buy, he said.

Photo from PL in the Philippines

Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzPEQrpAGMg
Article Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/10/05/regions/10-wounded-in-tipo-tipo-ambush/2438698

TIPO-TIPO, Basilan — Ten government personnel, including two army officers, were wounded after a group of armed men ambushed a convoy of six vehicles in Barangay Badja in this municipality on Monday morning, Oct. 5.

Brig. Gen. Frederick Sales, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade, reported that the ambush targeted a convoy of vehicles led by Lt. Col. Franco Baylon, commanding officer of the 45th Infantry Battalion, consisting of three KM450 military trucks and three civilian vehicles carrying composite security troops.

The convoy was traversing the road from the municipality of Tipo-Tipo en route to Lamitan City when armed men opened fire on the vehicles at around 7:45 a.m.

The ambush resulted in 10 individuals sustaining gunshot wounds, with four of the victims reported in critical condition due to the severity of their injuries, he said.

Sales said the four critically wounded soldiers were airlifted via a Philippine Air Force helicopter to a medical facility in Zamboanga City for specialized emergency treatment.

Among those critically injured were Sgt. Rolando Tumbali Jr. and 2Lt. June Joseph Madla, who both sustained gunshot wounds to the head.

Sgt. Carinio Guyod suffered gunshot wounds to the back of his head, back, and right finger during the heavy volume of fire.

Cpl. Anton Gregory De Guzman sustained a gunshot wound to his lower right leg, while SSgt. Allan Veniegas suffered a gunshot wound to his right hip.

Pfc. Glen Estardo of the 113th Division Reconnaissance Company and Civilian Active Auxiliary Nursifa Asani both sustained gunshot wounds to the abdomen.  Cpl. Roel Hagonoy, also of the 113th Division Reconnaissance Company, suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg.

Pfc. Almer Sinarellos and Pfc. Jay Taripe both suffered shrapnel wounds to their right fingers.

Pfc. Mark Anthony Abianares of the 14th Cavalry Armor Division also sustained a gunshot wound.

Sales identified the primary suspect behind the morning ambush as Saddam Sidick, the leader of a lawless element operating in the province. Sidick was previously implicated in a similar ambush incident targeting troops at an Infantry Support Unit in the area.

In addition to ambush attacks, Siddick’s group has been linked to various armed assaults against government positions across the province. Among these previous attacks was an assault on a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit patrol base in Barangay Sabong, along the Lamitan City-Tipo-Tipo border.

Security forces have previously conducted multiple targeted counter-operations against Sidick's group to neutralize their threats in rural Basilan.

During  those past counter-operations, military personnel successfully recovered improvised explosive devices and various bomb-making components from hideouts maintained by the group.

Following Monday's attack, military and police units immediately deployed pursuit teams and heightened security checkpoints across nearby municipalities to track down Sidick and his followers.

"We will not let off the military operation until we can neutralize him and his group," Sales said, emphasizing that joint security forces are determined to track down those responsible.

On Tuesday, Saddik’s wife, Nermalyn Musa, was killed  during an encounter while authorities tried to serve her a warrant for three counts of murder issued without bail on Aug. 20, 2026, by Branch 1 of the Regional Trial Court in Isabela City, Basilan.

The CIDG operating team confirmed it will submit a formal warrant return to the issuing court, while all recovered items were turned over to the CIDG office in Isabela City for proper documentation and disposition. 

🇰🇷🇵🇭 | Last July 2026, just a few months ago, officials from the U.S. Congress has visited the facilities of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, where they inspected the 2,400-ton Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), most likely the OPV3 / BRP Rajah Humabon PS-22, to be delivered to the Philippine Navy, soon.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has successfully delivered the first two Sulayman-class OPVs, the BRP Rajah Sulayman PS-20 and BRP Rajah Lakandula PS-21 early this year, ahead of schedule. HD HHI is also expected to deliver the 3rd OPV, the future BRP Rajah Humabon PS-22 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) in the next few months. The 4th OPV, the future BRP Sultan Kudarat PS-23 is now taking shape.

That is why my friend from the Navy told me, that they're now preparing for the upcoming deliveries of the 3rd up to 5th OPV starting next year, and to be completed with the 6th OPV by 2028.

Last year, the Department of Migrant Workers has visited the 70 Filipino overseas workers at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, as one of the workers involved in the construction of the Navy's 2,400-ton Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV). Built by Filipino hands, for the Philippine Navy.

Photo of the BRP Rajah Lakandula PS-21, OPV2.

https://economist.co.kr/article/view/ecn202609280025