The Philippines is to receive upgraded armored personnel carriers from Israel's Elbit Systems Ltd., the company announced.

The upgrade includes 25mm unmanned weapon turrets, 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon stations and fire control systems for 90mm turrets.

The contract is worth about $20 million, Elbit Systems said, and the armored personnel carriers will be supplied over a one-year period.

"We are very pleased to be awarded our first contract for the Philippine Armed Forces, which we hope will be followed by others," said Udi Vered, general manager of Elbit Systems' Land and C4I. "Our extensive portfolio and our vast experience enable us to offer our customers advanced solutions, answering the specific requirements of various combat vehicles, and this award further positions us as world leaders in the field of ground vehicle upgrades."

The Philippines has waged a long-standing struggle against a communist insurgency in parts of the country and a Muslim insurgency in its southern region.