July 18, 2024 - The Philippine Army (PA) is flexing its muscles with its new firepower! The 1st Tank Battalion recently conducted a live-fire exercise to test out the 105mm main guns of their brand new light tanks acquired from Israel.
This test fire, held from July 8th to 11th at the Col. Ernesto Rabina Air Base target range in Tarlac, was more than just showing off new toys. According to the 1st Tank Battalion's Facebook post, it was a critical part of keeping their troops sharp. Soldiers, both seasoned and new, gained valuable hands-on experience with the Elbit Systems' Land Sabrah light tanks.
The training wasn't a walk in the park. The rigorous sessions put the Sabrah tanks through their paces with a series of realistic combat scenarios. This allowed the troops to test and improve their accuracy, reliability, and overall firepower.
The 1st Tank Battalion is confident that these light tanks are a game-changer for Philippine territorial defense. Major General Pedro C. Balisi Jr., commander of the Armor Division, was also present to assess the Sabrah's performance firsthand.
The Armor Division is slated to receive a total of 20 Sabrah tanks and 10 wheeled armored vehicles by the end of 2024. Some reports suggest 6-10 Sabrah units are already operational.
This light tank acquisition is part of the Philippine government's commitment to modernizing its armed forces. The project falls under Horizon 2 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program and has a price tag of PHP9.4 billion secured through a government-to-government deal.