TC90 surveillance aircraft (Source: Abs-cbn.com) Hanoi (VNA) – ThePhilippines on March 26 received three secondhand TC90 surveillance aircraftfrom the Japanese Ministry of Defence in an effort to strengthen the naval force’scapacity and stay ready to respond to increasing maritime challenges andthreats.
In a speech at a naval base southof Manila, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the Philippines isfacing a lot of challenges related to maritime security such as piracy, armedinsurgents in the Sulu sea and other transnational crimes, including smugglingof illegal drugs and poaching into rich fishing grounds in the Philippines’ territorialwaters.
Therefore, the planes willdefinitely boost the navy’s capability to gather intelligence, Lorenzanastated.
The surveillance planes have aflight range of 300 km, doubling the capability of its existing aircraft. Thenavy said it has a budget of nearly 6 billion peso (114.65 million USD) toacquire two brand new long-range maritime patrol aircraft to enhance itsintelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.
Japan planned to lease fivesurveillance planes but decided last year to transfer without cost the aircraftafter changes were made in Tokyo’s self-defense forces law allowing donation ofexcess defense and military equipment to partner countries.-VNA
VNA
