Philippine army training on new armament and equipment.

According to Priam Nepomuceno of PNA, the Department of National Defense (DND) of the Philippines said that enhancing the capability of personnel in handling and operating the weapon platforms and systems acquired for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is the next step in its modernization program.
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Elbit Systems Soltam ATMOS 2000 155mm self-propelled howitzer displayed at Eurosatory 2014. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

"The next phase actually in our modernization is to improve the capacity of our people to operate the new technologies that we are acquiring," Lorenzana said in his speech during the celebration of the Philippine Army's 125th anniversary in Fort Bonifacio on Tuesday afternoon. Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana is a retired Philippine Army general serving as the Secretary of National Defense in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte. He served in the Philippine Army from 1973 to 2004. Lorenzana said the country cannot just acquire modern and state-of-the-art equipment and forego the training of the people who will be handling it.

Some of the newly-acquired equipment for the Philippine army which was showcased during its founding anniversary include the truck-mounted howitzer system (ATMOS 2000) 155mm and armored 120mm mortar carriers.

The Philippine Army ordered two batteries from Elbit Systems for a contract price of P2.4 billion through a government-to-government deal with Israel. This will be the first time that the Army would operate brand new self-propelled howitzer systems. Since the contract signed by the Philippine Department of Defense stated that Elbit Systems had to deliver all the SPHs within 24 months, that meant the Philippine Army should expect delivery of the remaining artillery systems before April 2022.

The Soltam ATMOS is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer designed and manufactured by Soltam Systems, now a subdivision of Elbit Systems. It is the latest generation of artillery systems in the ATMOS family. It is based on a 6x6 chassis fitted with a 155mm/39, 45 or 52 caliber barrel and has a maximum firing range of 41 km by using an Extended Range Full Bore Base Bleed (ERFB-BB) projectile. It is operated by a crew of four or six, including two loaders.