New communication platforms on US M939 chassis for Philippine Army.

The Philippine Army is now equipped with platforms that can provide situational capability and secure communication to its units in the field. The equipment being referred to is the "Blue Force Tracking System" that was developed by the Army Signal Regiment under its situational awareness capability program.

The new communication platforms are installed on U.S. 6x6 M939 series 5-ton chassis. (Picture source: Philippine Army Public Affairs Office)

The latter is equipped with a global positioning system, allowing it to provide critical information to ground units, Philippine Army spokesperson Lt.Col. Louie Villanueva said in a statement on 29 May.

Aside from its "Blue Force Tracking System", the army is also equipped with Mobile Command Centers (MCC) 1 and 2, tasked to provide communication support to all field units. Villanueva said communication capability upgrades, such as MCC 1 and MCC 2, enable the commanders and planners to see the battlefield with real-time picture to come up with comprehensive and accurate plans and timely decisions, particularly during the conduct of focused military operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations. Both platforms are capable of communicating through voice and data since they are equipped with dipole and aerial antennas, telephone extender, and satellite dish antenna, with uninterruptible power supply.