Designated Marksman Rifle Project of the Philippine Army

The Philippine Army was in the market for new Designated Marksman Rifles (DMR) in 7.62mm caliber, which are needed to replace ageing DMRs used by several units of the service, which are most likely using a scoped M14 battle rifle.

The Designated Marksman Rifle Acquisition Project is one of the Horizon 1 Second List Projects under the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

832 units were eyed in 2016, and will use budget worth almost Php255 million coming from the scuttled Php6.5 billion Shore Based Missile System (SBMS) acquisition project. 

The SIG716 16" 7.62x51mm designated marksman rifle, which was selected by the Philippine Army as their new standard 7.62mm rifle to eventually replace the M14. Photo taken from Police Magazine website.

Project Summary:

Designated Marksman Rifle Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 05 December 2019.

* End User: Philippine Army (multiple units)

* Quantity: 832 units + associated parts

* Modernization Phase: Horizon 1 Second List Projects of RAFPMP

* Project ABC: Php254,819,137.00

* Acquisition Mode: US Foreign Military Sales (US FMS), originally by Public Bidding through Procurement Services - Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), but encountered Failed Tenders.

* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund

* SARO Release: SARO-BMB-D-18-0004715 dated 05 March 2018 worth Php243,089,540.00, released 09 March 2018.

* Winning Proponent: SIG Sauer USA

* Product for Delivery: 
    - 7.62mm 16" barrel Designated Marksman Rifle, most likely SIG 716 DMR model

* Contract Price: Php243,089,540.00

* First post by MaxDefense: 03 March 2017

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PADMRAcquisition

* Status: Delivery completed as of November 2019. First displayed during Army Technology Day 2019.

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U P D A T E S:
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03 March 2017:

As posted on MaxDefense's community social media page:

The Philippine Army confirmed that new marksman rifles will be coming for special units. No mention was made on quantity and type.

Last year, MaxDefense mentioned in its blog on the re-prioritized items to replace the cancelled SBMS (which is now moved to Horizon 2 phase as the LBMS) that 7.62mm Designated Marksman Rifles are included in the acquisition plans. MaxDefense placed the quantity at 832 units, with a possibility for more if the difference between the awarded contract price and ABC will be used to purchase more units.

The report from PNA is posted in whole due to PNA's history of deleting news reports after a few months.

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New marksman rifles in the pipeline for PHL Army

MANILA, March 3 (PNA) -- Additional long-range marksman rifles are in the pipeline for special units of the Philippine Army (PA).

This was confirmed by Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

He declined to give the specific number of long-range markman rifles that are to be acquired but stressed it will be sufficient for all PA special units.

"We can't say (the exact number) as they are still undergoing study and the procurement process," Hao added.

The Army spokesperson disclosed that these new rifles will augment the Barrett sniper rifles that are in use.

Long-range marksman rifles provide Army units with the capability to neutralize terrorists or lawless threats at a distance beyond the range of the standard M-16 or M-4 rifles being used by Filipino military personnel.

These weapons are capable of engaging targets 800 meters to 5 km.(PNA)
CVL/PFN

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27 June 2019:

It appears that earlier attempts to conduct a Public Bidding for the Designated Marksman Rifle acquisition project were all failures.

Based on new information received by MaxDefense, it appears that the Department of National Defense (DND) opted to coordinated with the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) for the acquisition of US-made rifles through US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme in 2018.

And if our information is right, the rifles ordered were either from Iowa-based Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT), or SIG Sauer USA.

Both SIG Sauer and LMT are not new to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, specifically the AFP Special Operations Command (AFPSOCOM) and the Philippine Marine Corps' Marine Special Operations Group (MARSOG) as LMT rifles in 5.56mm and 7.62mm variants were among those provided by the US Department of Defense in previous batches of military assistance programs.

Meanwhile SIG Sauer has previously supplied the AFP with rifles and pistols, with the Philippine Army ordering more 2,000 new SIGM400 5.56mm rifles recently and for delivery soon.

No word was made on what model could have been ordered, but it appears that it could either be the LMT's LM308MWS, which is similar to the British Army's L129A1 in service since 2010, or SIG Sauer's SIG716 DMR G2.

The SIG Sauer SIG716 G2 (top) and LMT L129A1 (above) of the British Army, which is based on LMT's LM308MWS. Photo taken from The Truth About Guns and Wikipedia.

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21 November 2019:

MaxDefense received confirmation that the rifle manufacturer awarded with the project was SIG Sauer USA.

This means the chances that the model ordered by the Philippine Army is indeed the SIG716 or the newer SIG716 G2, in 16" barrel.

What we still need to determine is the optics to be used, since it would be included in SIG Sauer's contract.

Deliveries are said to have arrived lately from the US, and will be undergoing Ballistic Fingerprinting soon.

With these rifles distributed to infantry units, more M14s will be returned which the Government Arsenal could repair or modify for use by second-line units. 

The SIG716.

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05 December 2019:

MaxDefense received confirmation from sources that the Philippine Army has indeed received the full delivery of new 7.62mm Designated Marksman Rifles, and as previously reported, it is indeed from SIG Sauer USA.

16" barrels, and equipped with Trijicon optics. All brand new. 

One is currently on display in the Philippine Army's Technology Day 2019 exhibit in Fort Bonifacio.

MaxDefense will try to get more information including photos if we are lucky.

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First edit and release: 27 June 2019
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource.