Mitsubishi Electric Corp of Japan won a project to supply air surveillance radar systems to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) under a government to government (G2G) deal. This will be the first defense product to be exported by Japan after it lifted its self-imposed ban of trading arms in 2014. During the cold war Japan decided to stop exporting arms.
The deal which amounts to PHP 5.5. billion (USD 103 million) will include three fixed and one mobile radar systems. The systems will be developed based on the JFPS3 and JTPS-P14 radars. JFPS3 is capable of detecting approaching fighter jets and missiles while JTPS-P14 is an anti-aircraft radar system usually carried on vehicles.
The new equipment which will beef up the Philippines’ airspace coverage is part of the Philippine military modernization program’s Horizon 2 and will be delivered by either late 2021 or 2022.
Prior to this deal, Japan has been providing assistance to the Philippines in order to strengthen its bilateral defense cooperation in the form of training and equipment donation such as:
- Donation of five Beechcraft TC-90 aircraft to the Philippine Navy in 2018
- Donation of PHP 5 billion (USD 98 million) worth of spare parts for UH-1H helicopters of the Philippine Air Force in 2019
- In February 2020, the Japanese government financed the contract between the Philippines’ Department of Transportation and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. for the supply of two 94-meter multi-role response vessels
(Sources: Philippine Daily Inquirer; The Japan Times)
