Hanwha Systems, the chosen supplier of the combat management systems (CMS) for the Philippine Navy’s upcoming frigates, opened up its facilities to Philippine media recently.
The CMS is considered the “brain” of warships, which integrates its weapons, communication and navigation, and sensors systems for naval combat.
Manila-based reporters were given a chance to have a quick look at the integrated combat management systems’ test site for BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), the second missile-capable frigate which formally started its construction this week.
The selection of the CMS for the first purposely-built missile-capable frigates of the Philippine Navy attracted public attention last year.
Then Navy chief Vice Adm. Ronald Joseph Mercado was unceremoniously relieved from his post in late December 2017 for insisting on Tacticos Thales as CMS, as the system has been branded as a proven technology and capable of data integration with other modern navies.
Tacticos Thales is compatible with Tactical Data Link 16, a military data exchange network used by the navies of NATO, the United States, and other countries. Hanwha System’s Naval Shield compatibility with TDL 16 is still being developed.
Shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries recommended two brands of CMS for the Philippine ships — Tacticos Thales and Hanwha Systems. While it first offered Tacticos Thales to the Philippine Navy, it later switched to Naval Shield of Hanwha Systems.
(ANC247)