Japan to supply PH Air Force with surveillance radars

The Philippines is very serious in trying to modernize its Armed Forces , an archipelagic country which presents a very unique challenges in the way our military men prioritize what equipment must first be installed in the different scheme of things,

The Department of National Defense (DND) has identified and is now negotiating with the Japanese government regarding the possible acquisition of up to five (5) air surveillance radars for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana has confirmed that they are having discussions with their Japanese counterparts to procure the radars for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and include it as part of the cooperation agreement between Japan and the Philippines.

It may be recalled from the recent working visit of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that the Japanese government particularly Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reiterated its desire to cooperate with the Philippine government in the upgrade of its military hardware.

One of Japan's air surveillance radar domes housing a J/FPS-3 radar, similar to the model offered to the Philippines
(photo credit to owner)

Maxdefense Facebook page has confirmed that the particular model being offered by Japan was  Mitsubishi Electric's J/FPS-3ME, which is an updated variant of the J/FPS-3 used by the Japan Air Defense Ground Environment (JADGE).

Israel’s IAI Elta Systems ELM-2288ER and ELM-2288MR AD-STAR radars, and Lockheed Martin's TPS-77 from the United States is also competing with the Japanese for the Philippine market.

Should the procurement proceeds with any of the choices, it would be done through Government-to-Government (G2G) process with the government of origin.

Update March 12, 2020

According to Inquirer.net ,Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has bagged the contract to supply air surveillance radars to the Philippine Air Force (PAF), citing three senior government officials privy to the deal.

“Mitsubishi Electric offered an improved version of the J/FPS-3 radar, both in fixed and mobile variants. This could be bound to become Japan’s first export of military radars, and probably their first export of the J/FPS-3 radar after a failed bid in Thailand a few years ago,” MaxDefense noted.

According to a handout by Japanese Ministry of Defense, “the J/FPS-3 is an active phased array radar system that provides enhanced detection and tracking capabilities when compared to conventional radar systems. It has both long-range and short-range antennas, and its pseudo radio wave generator is useful for electronic warfare purposes.”

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was previously quoted that Japan and Philippines are in talks for acquisition of radar systems.

“Yes, they are offering to us their latest radars,” Secretary Lorenzana said in December 2018. “It is one of the platforms being evaluated by the PAF. To monitor aircrafts and seacrafts traversing, entering or leaving our territory.”

The government-to-government (G2G) deal involved the supply of P5.5 billion ($103 million) worth of three fixed and one mobile radar systems. The project under the Philippine military modernization program’s is expected to be delivered by late 2021 or 2022.

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Report from APDJ   PDI

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