Philippine Marines locally-made combat vehicles

MX-1 Kalakian

Developed in the early 2000s as a joint project between Philippine Army's Light Armored Brigade (later Light Armored Division) and Steelcraft Industries, Incorporated of Manila, Philippines, the MX-1 Kalakian (Water Buffalo) was very similar to the GKN Simba armored car/APC in service with the Philippine Army. The MX-1 was also very similar to the Hari-Digma armored car/APC, another indigenous development, over which the Simba had been selected in the 1990s.

The prototype vehicle, presen-ted to the Light Armored Brigade in December 2002 featured a one-man turret and rear gunner's position. The vehicle used a commercially available transmission and other commercial vehicle compo-nents, all intended to reduce unit cost. The vehicle had an armored hull with the same thickness as the Simba (12mm).

The turret was a modification of the Cadillac Gage 1-meter turret found on V-150 armored cars also in service in the Philippines. This turret was also produced in a modified form in the Philippines by the Floro International Corporation. The major difference was the incorporation of an additional element allowing for the turret to be armed with a .50 caliber machine gun, 40mm automatic grenade launcher, and 7.62mm machine gun. The Cadillac Gage turret could only be armed with 2 of those weapons at any time. On V-150 and Simba vehicles the 40mm grenade launcher was often added to the top of the turret. This required the gunner expose themselves. The modified turret allowed all the weapons to be fired from within the turret.

Some 20 vehicles were said to have been purchased for evaluation, and it was unclear whether these vehicles entered service. The prototype vehicle was said to have cost the Philippine government 8 million Philippine pesos.

MX-8 Barako

The MX-8 Armored Escort Vehicle (sometimes referred to as the Barako, or Wild Boar) was developed by Steelcraft Industries, Incorporated of Manila, Philippines in the mid-2000s as a low cost armored escort vehicle for the Philippine Army. The MX-8 was said to be a 100 percent Filipino design utilizing commercially available components. A 4x4 armored car with a 1-man turret armed with a 7.62mm machine gun, the was intended to escort motorized infantry convoys through hostile areas. This would free up heavier combat vehicles for other operations and reduce the dependance on improvised armored trucks then being used. The vehicle was said to cost around 6 million Philippine pesos, less than a third of the cost of the GKN Simba, one of the Philippine Army's primary combat vehicles. Steelcraft Industries had also reportedly suggested that the MX-8's roles and armament options could be expanded depending on what needs the Philippine Armed Forces identified. The initial prototype (later referred to as the Mk 1) had been tested with a .50 caliber machine gun or 7.62mm M134 "Minigun" in the turret, as well as unidentified "rocket launchers."

In 2008 a Mk 2 prototype was announced with a revised internal arrangement, a independant front suspension, and various other minor modifications. Run-flat tired were also installed as standard. The turret was modified to have vision blocks all around, providing 360 degrees of vision for the gunner. Perhaps the biggest change was the increased ground clearance and installation of a v-shapped hull design. The Mk 2 was developed as a private venture and the modifications were not requested by the AFP.

A further improved Mk 3 appeared in 2009. It featured another minor redesign of the hull shape. By that time the 4 (2 Mk 1, 1 Mk 2, and 1 Mk 3) prototype vehicles were already in service with the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police.

The MX-8 Barako armored vehicles were manufactured by Steelcraft Military Land Defense firm based in Balintawak, Quezon City. The project was the brainchild of a retired Army chief and was developed by the Philippine Research and Development Branch. The MX-8 prototype project started in 2005 and was carried out under the Self Reliant Defense Posture Law. Costing P6 million each, an MX-8 Barako has an armor level equivalent to the military’s Simba armored personnel carrier (APC) and mobility equal to a Humvee with short turning radius. The “Steelcraft Military Land Defense” agreement allowed 2 units of the MX-8 Barako armored vehicles, each mounted with a .50 caliber machinegun, to be purchased by a provincial government official. The armed vehicle consumes less fuel and is easy to maintain. The Army can buy spare parts from any auto supply store. Tune up and change oil would cost around P2,500, compared to the Simba. The prototype military vehicle would cost only some P6 million, which is more than 80 percent of the price of the British made Simba armored personnel carrier.

Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle (MMPV)

The Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle or MMPV uses independent suspensions and portal geared hubs similar to portal axles to make for a full 16 inches of ground clearance. The vehicle also has disc brakes on all 4 wheels, and 4-wheel double-wishbone suspension. The brake discs are not mounted at the wheels as on conventional automobiles, but are inboard, attached to the outside of each differential. The front and rear differentials are Torsen type, and the center differential is a regular, lockable type.Created by the Philippine Marine Corps to replace M151 MUTT jeeps in service as they are hard to maintain with problems concerning availability of spare parts.

The first prototypes are equipped with a 3.5L V6 en-gine, rated for 141 kW (189 hp/192 ps) and 306 Nm torque. diesel engine and trans-mission, 4WD and chassis. It is built around a tubular-steel frame safety roll-cage which protects the passenger com- partment if the vehicle turns over. This cage is covered by a heavy-gauge sheet metal. An electrical winch with a capacity of 5,000 kg (11,023 lb) can be mounted at the front of the vehicle if required, and the windshield can be removed. The passenger compartment is in the center of the vehicle with the driver on the left and two passenger seats to his right. There is space for 0.93 cubic metres (33 cu ft) of cargo behind the passenger seats. A full length skid pan protects the hull and allows the vehicle to slide over obstacles. The transmission is a Mitsubishi A-727 fully automatic with a torque converter, there are 3F and 1R gears - the Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle is in 4 x 4 drive all the time. Limited-slip clutches, in front and rear, and inter-axle differentials automatically distribute more torque to those wheels with the most grip. The independent suspension is of a double 'A' design with a torsion-bar spring and hydraulic telescopic shock absorber at each station. A stabilizer bar is provided for the rear suspension.

The steering is power-assisted and the tubeless tires have a high-pressure tube inner tire which provides a built-in spare for each tube as well as eliminating rim leaks during high speed cornering. The tires are self-cleaning and disc brakes are fitted on all four wheels. The electrical system is 24V DC and two batteries with a capacity of 45 Amp/Hr are provided. The alternator is of the integral rectifier and regulator type. The Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle is proved with a heavy duty towing pintle as well as a trailer wiring harness receptacle. It is air-transportable and can be air-dropped.

There are 3 major variants of the Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle: 

• Anti-Armour: A recoilless 106 mm rifle mounted above the crew compartment and a total of thirty five rounds of ammunition. 
• Reconnaissance: Fitted with a ring-mounted .50cal M2HB machine guns with a 360 degree traverse 
• Convoy Escort/ Security Vehicle: This can be provided with a pintle-mount 5.56mm/7.62 mmCal GPMG's, M174 automatic grenade launcher's and various other similar weapons. These weapons can also be mounted on the reconnaissance model on the ring mount. 

The following kits are available for the basic vehicle: Crew compartment armor kit, consisting of a high-hardness steel doors, side body panels, toe panel, firewall, bullet-proof windshield and bullet-proof side windows. Armored radiator, Armored fuel tank, Top and door kit (water-proof fabric with plastic windows and hinged doors) Various communications installations, High output alternators, 100 and 180 Amp, Litter-carrying kit, Jump seat for two additional passengers., Explosion resistant reticulated foam fuel-tank filler, Radial ply tires or bullet-proof foam-filled tires, Extreme climate kits for winterization or desert temperatures, Tool kit and portable fire extinguisher.

Proposed Sub Variants: 

• Troop transports 
• Armament Carrier, Armored 
• Ambulance 
• Communications 
• Command posts 
• Military Police vehicles

Armaments: 

• M2 .50 machine guns 
• M240 machine guns 
• Mk 19 or Mk 47 40mm grenade launchers 
• M249 machine guns 
• Smoke grenade launchers 

Sources: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/philippines/mx-1.htm

              http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/philippines/mx-8.htm

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Multi-purpose_Vehicle