The Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) are set to receive new surveillance equipment from Japan to enhance the military’s monitoring capabilities across the country’s waters and airspace under its archipelagic defense strategy.
The package includes coastal surveillance radars for the Navy and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the PAF, funded by a ¥4.3-billion (approximately ₱1.72-billion) grant under Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) program for fiscal year 2026.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Japanese Ambassador Kitagawa Katsuro signed and exchanged diplomatic notes for the agreement in Manila on Monday, November 9. This marks the first transfer of finished defense equipment under Japan’s OSA program, which was established in 2023 to provide assistance to partner nations.
Strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness
Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez stated that the radar systems will support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 360-degree maritime domain awareness, aligning with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept and the Navy’s Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy.
“The Philippine Navy will be assessing the best places to position these coastal surveillance radars. It would be aligned to our strategic basing and our Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy, wherein we have to have a 360-degree situational awareness of our maritime domain,” she said.
Martinez noted that the military-grade systems met technical standards for performance, accuracy, range, and system compatibility, helping detect and identify vessels within and beyond the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Bolstering Air Force ISR Capabilities
Meanwhile, Air Force spokesperson Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian welcomed the introduction of the new drones, noting that they will complement existing assets used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
”This new asset will be a boost to our very own existing ISR assets. This is a significant development, and the signing highlights the continuing strengthening of relations between Japan and the Philippines,” Capinguian said.