PAF Commissions Japanese Radar System

21 Desember 2023

New J/FPS-3ME air surveillance and air defense radar system  from Mitsubishi Electric of Japan (photos : Frances Mangosing and Bianca Dava)

Japanese radar system ups PH capability to detect intrusions

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – The air surveillance radar system (ASRS) acquired by the Philippines from Japan will allow the country to detect intrusions within 300 nautical miles, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Wednesday.

"Importante po ito kasi makikita po natin sa layong 300 nautical miles ang mga intrusions sa ating airspace at kaugnay ng mga ibang sistema magkakaroon tayo ng klarong picture hindi lamang sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) kundi sa iba pang lugar sa Pilipinas sa sea, air domain kung sino ang pumapasok sa atin (teritoryo) at kung ano ito (This system is important because it will allow us to see within 300 nautical miles intrusions in our air space and in relation with our other systems, we will not only have a clearer picture of what's happening in the WPS but of other areas in the in Philippines in its sea, air domain. We will know who is entering and what it is exactly)," Teodoro said during the acceptance, turnover and blessing ceremony of the ASRS, manufactured by the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO), at the Wallace Air Station in San Fernando, La Union.

The DND chief said the ASRS deal highlights Japan's "concrete steps and concrete actions" as a strategic partner of the Philippines.

"Today, we witnessed one of the concrete steps and concrete actions that our strategic partner Japan has done in order to firm our alliance particularly on the security side," he added.

Teodoro also reiterated that the Philippines is the first ever recipient of Official Security Assistance from Japan which was pledged during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the country in November this year.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the PHP5.5 billion ASRS deal with MELCO consists of three fixed FPS-3ME and a mobile TPS-P14ME.

FPS-3ME radar (photo : Mitsubishi Electric)

These radar systems will be operated by the PAF's 580th Aircraft Control and Warning Wing and is under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Horizon Plan 2.

The ASRS was procured via a government-to-government deal where the DND signed the project's contract on Aug. 14, 2020.

The contract includes the radar platform with support facilities that includes radar tower and radome, command-and-control building, communications infrastructure, electric power generator building and housing for the mobile radar and its vehicles.

It also includes support vehicles for the mobile radar, training, maintenance facilities and initial integrated logistics support systems (ILS).

The PAF said the ASRS are designed for early warning, and land and maritime surveillance, whether for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, or remotely piloted vehicles.

Wallace Air Station in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines (image : GoogleMaps)

It also said the ASRS acquisition will enhance the country's ability to monitor air and maritime activities in the region.

It will provide near-real time information and overall air situational picture for our strategic decision-makers in all spectrum of operations thus making the PAF responsive to the national security requirements.

The pre-delivery inspection of the first unit of ASRS was conducted on Oct. 4 to 8, 2022, in Japan.

The first unit of the ASRS was delivered to the country on Dec. 7, 2022, which was followed by the construction and installation of radar tower and C-2 building that were undertaken in the succeeding months.

The MELCO radar passed the acceptance test last Oct. 24 and has been in use since then. 

(PNA)