France renews its offer of cooperation to Philippine Navy.

According to information published by the Philippine News Agency on September 20, 2023, France has reaffirmed its commitment to bolster the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (AFPMP), with a particular emphasis on advancing the Philippines' budding submarine force.
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Indian Scorpene class submarine Vagsheer.  (Picture source: Indian MoD)

Highlighting France’s position as an integral partner in the Indo-Pacific, Ambassador-designate Fontanel underscored the readiness of France's defense manufacturer, Naval Group, to aid in the establishment of a Philippine submarine force.

According to DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, the Naval Group has offered its expertise in transforming Subic Bay in Zambales into a state-of-the-art base geared for efficient submarine operations, provided they secure the construction contract.

The Philippine Navy (PN) has already marked Subic Bay as the future hub for its submarine operations. Envisaged plans for the base include infrastructure to support more than two submarines, surface ships, command centers, maintenance areas, logistics depots, and a dedicated training center equipped with advanced simulators and classrooms.

Of note, Naval Group is the manufacturer of the Scorpene diesel-electric submarine, which has already piqued the interest of the Philippines. Filipino defense officials critically assessed this submarine model back in 2019.

The ongoing AFPMP indicates the country's ambition to incorporate two to three submarines into its naval force. France has previously shown eagerness to engage in the AFPMP, especially in the Horizon 3 phase, which is tailored for the procurement of equipment pivotal for external defense. The phases of this program are categorized with Horizon 3 spanning 2023 to 2028, Horizon 2 from 2018 to 2022, and Horizon 1 from 2013 to 2017.