MANILA (PNA) --The Department of National Defense (DND) on Thursday confirmed that the country is interested in acquiring P-3C "Orion" maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft from Japan.
"We are interested in acquiring them (P-3Cs) especially if they become excess defense articles as we can acquire it at a very reasonable price which is advantageous to the government," National Defense spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said.
Japan is in the process of replacing its P-3Cs with its homegrown Kawasaki Heavy P-1 patrol aircraft, which has twice the range of the "Orion," which is pegged at 2,380 nautical miles.
The Japanese military is known to operate 70 plus units of P-3Cs.
And when asked if the country is capable of maintaining and operating the P-3C, Galvez said that the DND would try to program it from its budget.
He also admitted that the P-3C transfer was mention in passing during the June visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III to Japan. (PNA)
LRPA project still on go, says DND official
Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary for Modernization Fernando Manalo said on Thursday the country's "long range patrol aircraft" (LRPA) project is still on go.
But he clarified that the bidding process for the LRPA is suspended pending the approval and signing of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.
This is in the wake of reports saying that defense officials of Japan and the Philippines are talking about a possible transfer of two to four P-3C "Orion" maritime patrol aircraft to the country's military forces.
Manalo said that the LRPA acquisition is a separate project from the P-3C
The DND's LRPA project is worth PhP5.9 billion and is for two aircraft.
The LRPAs are for the use of the Philippine Air Force.
Earlier, in a supplemental bid bulletin posted at the DND website, prospective bidders were told to submit aircraft designs with systems that allow autonomous operation.
"The aircraft must be equipped with a system that allows autonomous operation in remote bases ensuring electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic power on ground. The system must also be able to start the engines without ground support," it said.
This means that the LRPAs can be deployable in remote airfields lacking modern start-up facilities.
Aside from this, the planes must be equipped with a noise reduction system which is capable of reducing both cabin vibration and noise and eliminate many of the buzzes and rattles which would otherwise be a major source of annoyance and distraction for surveillance and patrol mission crew. (PTVNews)
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