Japan offers to sell air defense radar to PH

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday confirmed that Japan has offered to sell to the Philippines its air defense radar technology to help the country in its territorial defense.

Lorenzana said Japan’s offer is one of the platforms being studied by the Philippine Air Force or PAF.

“Yes, they (Japan) are offering to us their latest radars. It is one of the platforms being evaluated by the PAF,” Lorenzana said.

“(This will be use) to monitor aircrafts and seacraft traversing, entering or leaving our territory,” he added.

Lorenzana said they will consider Japan's offer.

“Of course, kaya nga [that is why] it is being evaluated by our TWG (Technical Working Group),” Lorenzana said.

According to an article posted online which can be read via: https://www.armyrecognition.com/ december_2018_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/japan_ possibly_selling_air-defense_radar_to_philippines.html, the Asian Review was quoted as saying that Japan is considering selling air defense radar technology to the Philippines in what would be its first export of defense equipment since ending a nearly 50-year ban in 2014.

Japan is sounding out the Philippines about buying an upgraded model of the Mitsubishi Electricmade FPS-3 air defense radar system, which Japan's Air Self-Defense Force has used since 1991 in missile defense and monitoring airspace incursions. Tokyo has already begun offering technical information on the system to Manila.

Japan's thinking goes that upgrading the less-than-cutting-edge radar to meet the Philippines' needs will keep costs down, helping it win orders.

The price of the radar system is expected to be between 1 billion yen and 2 billion yen ($8.87 million and $17.7 million).

Manila has also approached the United States and Israel on the matter, according to a source connected to the Japanese government, and may decide as early as the start of next year.

Japan and Philippines are interested in partnering on maritime security as China continues to build up its military presence in the South China Sea, a vital sea lane for goods and energy shipments for both Tokyo and Manila.

By exporting air-defense radars to the Philippines, Japan hopes to improve the Southeast Asian country's detection and surveillance ca- pabilities and help maintain safety in the region.

Japan, it was recalled, signed an accord with the Philippines in March, 2016, to allow Tokyo to supply military equipment to Manila, the first such Japanese defense pact in a region where both have expressed alarm over China’s island-building and other aggressive acts in disputed waters.

This is the first such defense pact that the Japanese government has entered into with a country which is also embroiled in a heated territorial dispute with China in the region.

Both the Philippines and Japan have existing territorial disputes with China – the former over the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea, while the latter over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.