CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City—The AFP welcomed Israel's continued support to the AFP's modernization and capability upgrade during the courtesy visit of BGen Efraim Defrin, Head of International Cooperation Division, Israel Defense Forces, on March 15 at the AFP General Headquarters (GHQ).
BGen Defrin met with LtGen William Gonzales PA, The Inspector General, AFP, and Marine BGen Noel Beleran, DCS for Education, Training and Doctrine, J8, and other senior officers of the GHQ.
In their meeting, LtGen Gonzales extended the AFP's appreciation of Israel's support to the AFP Modernization Program.
The AFP currently has 20 modernization projects with Israel, 14 of which have already been completed amounting to Php19 billion. These projects include artillery howitzers, armored vehicles, air defense surveillance and radar systems, multi-purpose attack craft, firepower upgrades, and force protection equipment.
The ongoing projects are light tanks, armored personnel carriers, ground-based air defense systems, and fast attack interdiction craft.
BGen Defrin acknowledged the similarities in the challenges and issues faced by the Philippines and Israel and raised the importance of working together and learning from each other.
He added that the IDF and the AFP could further enhance knowledge and expertise sharing through continued training and student exchanges.
Following their meeting, BGen Defrin gave a strategic overview of IDF's defense doctrine and security challenges.
As the basis for military cooperation, the AFP has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Logistics and Defense Industry Cooperation of 2010 with the IDF. The MOU is focused on enhancing intelligence exchanges, logistics, education and training, counterterrorism, and cyber security.///(Photos by Pfc Carmelotes PN(M), PAOAFP)
