PH receives modern radar system from Japan

The Philippines’ monitoring capabilities, especially at the West Philippine Sea, got a big boost with the arrival of an Advance Air Surveillance Radar (ASRS) from Japan which will be installed in the province of La Union.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the arrival of the FPS-3ME ASRS was one of the concrete steps and actions that Japan did in terms of improving the Philippines’ defense capability.

“This is one of the concrete steps and concrete actions that our strategic partner Japan has done in order to firm up our alliance particularly on its side. We must remember that the Philippines is the first-ever recipient of official security assistance from Japan,” said Teodoro in his speech during the formal acceptance, turnover, and blessing ceremony of radar system at the Wallace Air Station in San Fernando City, La Union.

“The fundamental thing to underscore is to echo the messages of our heads of states, that is why we are cooperating not only bilaterally with Japan but multilaterally with other countries to maintain a free and open Indopacific to establish right and proper conduct under a rulesbased international order, the primacy of generally accepted principles of international law in particular and principally UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” he added.

The FPS-3ME ASRS was pledged by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his visit to the Philippines last month.

The newly acquired radar is part of the Air Surveillance Radar System Acquisition Project with Japan which includes three fixed longrange surveillance radars and one mobile air surveillance radar.

It will be operated and maintained by the 580th Aircraft Control and Warning Wing.