Scorpion CVRT Light reconnaissance tracked armoured vehicle Philippines army

The work likely will cost around $4.6 million and include replacing the gasoline engines with diesel ones on the army's dozen in-service Scorpions, Philippine army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade said.

Six more Scorpions, mothballed because of the scarcity of spare gasoline engine parts, also will get diesel engines to bring the vehicles back into service, he said.

A project management team was formed last week, "so it will be 18 (upgraded tanks) for the same budget," he said. "These are important, especially in our (operations) in central Mindanao" against insurgents, Parlade said.

The eight-ton FV101 Scorpion, an armored reconnaissance vehicle or light tank, was manufactured by Alvis in the United Kingdom. It was introduced into service with the British army in 1973 and served until 1994. More than 3,000 were produced.

The Scorpion 90, or Scorpion 2 version -- some of which the Philippines purchased -- was armed with the long-barreled Cockerill Mk3 M-A1 90mm gun and designed for the export market.