From Russia with love
Russia donates 5,000 kalashnikov AKM assault rifles, 20 Ural 6x6 8-ton general purpose, off road trucks, 5,000 Ssh-68 steel helmets, and 1 million rounds of 7.62x39 mm ammunition, to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The AKM assault rifles, and the Ssh-68 steel helmets
The AKM is a modernized variant of the AK-47 chambered in 7.62x39 mm Russian round, Russia also donated 5,000 Ssh-68 steel helmets to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) which is uncomfortable to use, and it is already obsolete when compared to modern day 21st century helmets.
URAL trucks
Russia also donated 20 Ural 6x6 8-ton general purpose, off road trucks to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Russian/Soviet Ural trucks are known as the back bone of the USSR armed forces during the cold war, in the present time the Ural trucks could now be converted into different variants depending on the needs of the Russian armed forces, the trucks are still currently in use by the Russian armed forces.
Analysis
Like what happened to the donated assault rifles of China, the donated assault rifles, and trucks of Russia might be donated to the Philippine National Police (PNP) as well, the Philippine National Police (PNP) unlike the armed forces is a law enforcement agency, and being civilian in nature their doctrines, principles, training, and how they conduct daily operations are somehow not similar with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
If the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) choose to keep the donated assault rifles of Russia, it is quite interesting to know who would be the end user of these donated assault rifles, the donated AKM would seem to be a major logistical disaster, that is because it would affect military principles, and doctrines, would be changed or be modified once again that is because of the introduction of the 7.62x39 mm Russian rounds. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) standard assault rifle is the M4A1 that uses 5.56x45 mm rounds, the M16 assault rifles that also uses 5.56x45 are used by the reservists.
If the Armed Forces of the Philippines choose to keep the donated assault rifles, the good news is, the Government Arsenal could mass produce 7.62x39 mm rounds, once they are required to do so by the Department of National Defense for the logistical sufficiency of our 7.62x39 rounds.
The 20 Ural 6x6 8-ton general purpose off road trucks, could be donated to the Philippine National Police, if the armed forces is the end user of the 20 Ural then it might end with specialized units such as the nurse/medical corps, engineering brigades, and similar smaller units within the Armed Forces of the Philippines that is because of its limited numbers.
The donation might open a door to a deeper, and better Philippine-Russian relations, although the intention of the Russian donation is to counter terrorism within the Philippines.
Some Filipinos interpret it as a teaser or just a mere sample for Russian military hardware, at the same time viewed as an military investment of Russia in the Philippines for its bid, and business interests on the ongoing AFP modernization programs. While some Filipinos view the donation, as a donation of Russian stockpiled Cold War era junk.
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“We are looking at helicopters, small arms and equipment for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, but we are still discussing the specifics,” said the same military official who declined to be named because he was not authorized to talk to the press.
“We still prefer U.S. and Western equipment but they are very expensive. If the Russians and Chinese equipment can be comparable in quality, then they can be excellent alternatives.”
Q&A
Tell us what do you think about the Russian donation on the comments; and
Is the Russian donation useful for the Armed Forces of the Philippines?
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