Philippines Modern Surveillance Radar System Made in Japan used to monitor WPS

Japan has delivered to the Philippines the first unit of a long-range air surveillance radar system to be used by the Philippine Air Force. It was part of the first major deal on military hardware that Japan had reached with another country since easing its self-imposed prohibition on arms exports.
The 5.5 billion pesos shipment was made last month while work is ongoing on the remaining units for future delivery, the Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric Co. said in a statement last week. The company made the announcement on the eve of the arrival of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Manila for a two-day official visit.
For Japan, the Philippines is a strategic partner that will share basic defense values, and to enhance cooperation in defense equipment and technology. This is important for ensuring peace and stability in Japan and the region, particularly in South China Sea.
In 2014, Tokyo lifted its arms export ban for the first time since its defeat in World War II. On the Philippine side, the Department of National Defense ordered three fixed and one mobile long-range air surveillance radars in 2020 for 5.5 pesos billion under a government-to-government deal.
In an earlier statement, the Philippines Department of National Defense said the upgrade was expected to help detect, identify, and correlate any threats and intrusions within the country’s exclusive economic zone. The first radar delivered in October was installed in a location facing the West Philippine Sea.
The country’s EEZ and the West Philippine Sea in general have been the site of recurring tensions between Philippine and Chinese coast guard vessels, leading to on-and-off diplomatic rifts between Manila and Beijing.
The new warning and control radar system, FPS-3ME, can detect multiple fighter jets and ballistic missiles. The FPS-3ME is an improved version of the J/FPS-3 radar, which has been used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, according to manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.
The Japanese company in August 2020 signed a contract with the Philippine Defense Department worth about $100 million for four FPS-3ME radars. Domestic production for the first radar concluded in October 2022, and the Philippine Air Force received it last week.
The second radar is meant for the Philippine Navy, and its acquisition is made possible, thanks to $4.2 million from a Japanese-run security assistance program, according to the Japanese and Philippine governments. Neither the Japanese government nor Mitsubishi have disclosed the status of the remaining radar systems on order.
The coastal radar systems are a vital addition to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ maritime defense capabilities and will bolster its ability to monitor and protect its extensive coastline, ensuring the safety and security of its seas.
In his speech before the Philippine lawmakers, Kishida said enhancing the Philippines’ security contributes to regional peace and stability.
The Philippines faces important sea lanes for Japan including the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait. To ensure the safety and security of these sea lanes, it is very timely and crucial that the maritime domain awareness capabilities of the Department of National Defense, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Navy, are enhanced for the effective monitoring of these sea lanes and waters.
On related news, Japan agreed to give the Philippines coastal radar systems worth 600 million yen or around $4 million as the countries deepen cooperation with an eye on Asia-Pacific security challenges.
The agreement was struck at a 90-minute meeting in Manila between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Kishida is seeking stronger ties with the Philippines, which is involved in maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea, to increase deterrence in the region.
The radars will be supplied under Japan's new Official Security Assistance program, which provides defense equipment for free to like-minded partners. The framework was proposed under Japan's updated National Security Strategy published in late 2022. It officially launched this fiscal year to supplement official development assistance focusing on economic development.


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