Philippine Army received upgraded M14 marksman rifles from Jordan

The assistance provided by the Kingdom of Jordan to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is expected to be very useful to its fight against terrorism and other threats to the Filipino people.

So far, the government has been able to declare two items that they received from the Jordanian government: the two Bell AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters, and an Al-Sater assault vehicle which MaxDefense reported last August 2019.

So far, another proposal from the Jordanian government was for the donation of up to 60 M113 armored vehicles, which until now has not been exercised.

But it turns out that there could be more grants that the Jordanian government may have offered to the Philippine government, as MaxDefense received information late last year of a grant that the AFP received.

In this case, the Philippine Army was said to benefit from the delivery of a few hundreds of upgraded M14 7.62x51mm rifles from Jordan, which are previously used by the Royal Jordanian Army.

Credits to original source of photo.

Upgraded M14 7.62mm marksman rifles

According to information received by MaxDefense from Philippine Army sources, they received several hundred units of upgraded M14 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles from Jordan late last year.

The rifles were already upgraded to a configuration similar to the Mk. 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) upgrade as previously used by the US Special Operations Command.

The Mk. 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle upgrade is essentially an M14 battle rifle with modifications made according to the requirements of the US Navy SEALs. Depending on the variant, either it uses the standard 22" barrel, or a shorter 18" barrel bolted to a telescopic chassis stock system made by Sage International.

Added with the telescopic chassis stock system were Picatinny accessory rails, a pistol grip, upgraded front sight, a bipod and a new flash hider.

The Mk. 14 EBR. Photo taken from Guns and Ammo.

The chassis is made mostly of lightweight alloy similar to those used in aircraft, reducing the overall weight of the rifle. The availability of the Picatinny rails allows the use of different optics including nigh vision scopes, or the use of two different optic systems.

Different builders made their own variants of the EBR, with changes on the chassis design, pistol grip, butt stock, flash hider, barrel lengths and brands, front and rear sights, optic systems, and many others. But the design remains similar to the base model.

Several manufacturers have introduced their own version of the Mk. 14 EBR, which even includes US-based FERFRANS which is owned by Filipino Americans, calling their variant the SOPMOD M14/M1A EBR.

Even FERFRANS has its own M14 EBR-type upgrade called the SOPMOD M14/M1A EBR. Photo taken from Defense Review.

Other countries also adapted an M14 upgrade program similar to the Mk.14 EBR model, with the Jordan among those who took interest to upgrade their existing inventory of M14 battle rifles.


Jordanian M14 EBR Rifles:

The Kingdom of Jordan received thousands of used M14 7.62x51mm battle rifles as excess defense articles from the US government. Most went to the Royal Jordanian Army (RJA) and used for a variety of purposes including as designated marksman rifles.

Like the M14s used by the Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps, the M14 has become too old, heavy and cumbersome compared to most modern assault and marksman rifles. Thus, the RJA turned into converting their M14s into something similar to the Mk. 14 Enhanced Battle Rifles.

No quantities were confirmed but apparently the RJA converted a few thousand of their M14s into something similar to the Mk. 14 EBR. These were used as marksman or sniper rifles within the RJA, until they were ultimately replaced by the DPMS Panther Arms LR308 5.56x45mm marksman / sniper rifle.

With the rifles just stored, a few hundreds of them found their way to the Philippines, after the Jordanian government offered them to the Philippine government as a grant, with approval from the US government being the original source of the weapons.

According to sources, the rifles arrived around 4th quarter of 2019, and will still be undergoing processes before distribution to frontline units.This would allow the Philippine Army to build up its division sniper companies, while taking out the old M14 rifles being utilized for DMR functions to undergo rehabilitation and upgrade.

Issues on the Mk.1 4 EBR:
While these assets would be useful, it would best noted why the US armed forces replaced these rifles with AR-10 based rifles like the Mk. 11 7.62mm rifle.

Apparently they are prone to shock due to the lightweight chassis, which could affect accuracy. But these rifles are not expected to be used roughly, considering most marksmen would be operating at a different tempo than regular infantrymen.
But this won't be an issue for the Philippine Army considering these are still far better than what they have, or than nothing at all.

As a temporary measure, the Mk. 14 EBRs would be able to fill up the marksman requirements while more newer rifles like the SIG716 G2 are acquired in the future.

Photo taken from Wikipedia.

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The arrival of a huge amount of 7.62x51mm Mk.14 EBRs will definitely improve the Philippine Army's infantry and small unit capabilities, considering it is short on designated marksman rifles despite the recent arrival of new SIG Sauer SIG716 G2 7.62x51mm marksman rifles. A lot of the Philippine Army's existing M14 rifles will be given the necessary improvements or eventually retired from frontline service.

It remains to be seen though on when the Philippine Army would be able to show these newly acquired rifles, as it appears that they have not distributed it to frontline units yet despite word that some units are being tested by AFP Special Operations Command (AFPSOCOM) units.

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First posted and released on 11 March 2020

Copyright MaxDefense Philippines

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M113 Armored Vehicles Offered by Jordan for Donation to the Philippine Army

In one of our previous MaxDefense blog entries, we discussed that the Jordanian government has offered to provide the Philippine government two (2) Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters for the Philippine Air Force (PAF). This is Jordan's help to the Philippines in its fight against ISIS-inspired terrorists like the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf Group, among others, who are still not considered totally defeated despite the Philippine government's success in killing its leaders and most of its members during the months of fighting in the City of Marawi.

The deal involves the donation of the 2 helicopters, but the Philippine government needs to have the helicopters repaired and refurbished through the Jordanian Armed Forces, and the work, plus shipping to the Philippines, paid for by the Philippine government.

In addition, several MaxDefense @ Facebook posts we made mentioned about updates on the planned donation, wherein the PAF already identified, inspected and evaluated the 2 helicopters before Christmas last year, and that they gave a positive recommendation for its acquisition and funding. 

Recently, Pres. Duterte himself, in his speech in a bridge ceremonial opening in Mindoro Island last 03 April 2018, mentioned that the Kingdom of Jordan was providing the Philippine government "2 gifts" that are expensive. 

In our Facebook posts dated 04 April 2018, MaxDefense interpreted the "2 gifts" from Jordan to be the 2 Bell AH-1F Cobra helicopters that MaxDefense announced in August 2017. But after more information coming in from sources for the last few days, MaxDefense now believes that the interpretation we made earlier was incorrect, or more accurately, incomplete.

Instead, it appears that the 2 Cobra helicopters are just part of Jordan's Gift #1.

For more information on the Jordanian offer for 2 Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters, please refer the blog entry below:

"Is the Philippine Air Force getting Bell AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopters from Jordan?" - dated 21 August 2017.

So What is Gift #2?

Gift #2 is actually something else. And based on several information from sources, it appears that Jordan is also providing the Philippine government dozens of M113 tracked armored personnel carriers. 

They would also be donated, although the agreement involves the Philippine government paying for the repair and refurbishing done through the Jordanian Armed Forces, plus paying for the shipping of the armored vehicles to the Philippines.

One the RJA's upgraded M113A2, designated as the M113A2MK2-1J. It is fitted with a modified armored cupola to protect the gunner from enemy fire or explosion blasts. It also has an external carrying compartment which could allow it to carry other equipment especially those for the infantry units.
Credits to owner of photo.

No exact variant or quantities were provided to MaxDefense as of yet, but it is said to be, at least, more than 60 units, and MAY even include specialized models of the M113 family. These vehicles are said to have been part of those already stored by the RJA as they receives newer armored vehicles from other countries. The RJA is also a strong buyer of used armored vehicles, as they wisely use their limited resources to build up a strong Army in a very volatile region.

The Royal Jordanian Army operates more than a thousand M113A2 and the Jordan-upgraded M113A2MK-2J, including specialized variants like M577 Command Vehicles, M163 Vulcan Air Defense System vehicles, M901 TOW-mounted anti-tank vehicles, M106 Mortar Carriers, and M806 Armored Recovery Vehicles, and has in storage hundreds of M113s including M113A1 and M113A2 armored personnel carriers.

The M113s the Jordanians might be offering won't include the uparmored cupola, and external storage boxes, and other upgrades made by Jordan. Instead, it is expected that the armored vehicles will be in its basic form, probably without even the machine gun, and will be upgraded by the Jordanian government and paid for the by Philippine Army.
Credits to owner of photo.

Status of the Jordan's Offers:

While MaxDefense reported last time in its earlier blog entry that the 2 AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters were already recommended by the Philippine Air Force for acquisition, it is said that the Philippine Army is still finalizing its recommendation to proceed with the acquisition. 

In our previous blog entry, MaxDefense mentioned that the Philippine Air Force already recommended the acquisition of the 2 Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters that Jordan was offering for donation. The M113 offer is tied-up to this, and would probably be accepted by the Philippine Army as well.

But MaxDefense was already given a heads-up by a source from the Mechanized Infantry Division saying that the Philippine Army is expected to push for the acquisition of the vehicles, and funding request from the national government. It appears that the funding for both the Cobras and the M113 from Jordan are not covered by the programmed Revised AFP Modernization Horizon 2 budget.

MaxDefense sources confirmed that accepting the offer from Jordan, despite the need to spend for repairs and refurbishing, is still a cheaper way of acquiring more assets to increase the armored vehicle fleet instead of buying new ones that are expensive. 

It is also expected that the Philippine Army will provide the 50-caliber machine guns, which would be acquired separately, or will be coming from Philippine Army stocks.

The Philippine Army, as mentioned by several sources, is in need of at least 300 M113 armored vehicles to allow the Mechanized Infantry Division to have sufficient vehicles to fill in its mechanized nfantry units. Currently, the Philippine Army has a little over 200 M113A1, M113A2 and M113A2+ in different variants, and many of the older M113A1 are in need of rehabilitation and refurbishing due to lack of it. Many of the newer M113s will be undergoing uparming as part of the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program, which will be discussed by MaxDefense in future blog entries.

The Philippine Army is in need of at least 300 M113 tracked armored vehicles to fill the requirements of the Mechanized Infantry Division, and free up its wheeled 4x4 armored vehicles for other duties.
Photo taken from the collection of the late Mr. John Chua, who was a MaxDefense community member.

Since this not yet finalized deal between the Philippines and Jordan, there is still a chance that either or both offers from the Kingdom of Jordan may not proceed. This option is still possible, especially with Pres. Duterte at odds with the United Nations' Human Rights Commissioner, who happens to be a close relative of the King of Jordan, King Abdullah II. But MaxDefense is hopeful that cooler heads will prevail, and any odds between personalities won't affect the deal from happening.

Proceeding or not, MaxDefense is thankful for the Jordanian government's offer to assist the Philippine military in fighting the ISIS-inspired terrorists despite their resources tied up in fighting the terrorist threat in their own homeland.

More updates will be posted here @ MaxDefense as information starts coming in, however good or bad it may be.

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