MANILA (PNA) -- One out of the five TC-90 aircraft, earlier leased from Japan, will be arriving in the Philippines by the first quarter of 2017.
This was disclosed by Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna who added that the aircraft may arrive either in February or March at the Sangley Point air facility in Cavite.
Last November, two PN pilots and six air crews left for Japan to start training on the above-mentioned aircraft.
The Department of National Defense (DND) earlier announced that the Philippines will be re-equipping the TC-90s as Japan have stripped of some its equipment, including its surveillance systems.
The country will pay Japan USD7,000 each for the first four aircraft yearly and only USD200 for the fifth, or total of USD28,200 as stipulated in its lease agreement.
It is renewable every year. The TC-90s will come from the stocks of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and it also useful for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and maritime security.
The DND said that they are looking at the possibility of using for 20 years as it will proved very handy for the Philippines while its military is upgrading its equipment.
The TC-90, which is part of the Beechcraft King Air aircraft family, was offered by Japan shortly after the Agreement Concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology was finalized last February 29.
The TC-90's patrol range is double those of small Philippine aircraft which only has a maximum range of 300 kilometers.
(PNA)
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