Defense
Minister Gen Nakatani and Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin
confirmed the deal by telephone Monday evening. The agreement to lease
up to five TC-90 aircraft is aimed at strengthening the Philippines’
maritime security capabilities as China’s becomes increasingly
assertive in the South China Sea.
Aircraft currently used by the Philippine Navy for air patrol missions
have a limited range of about 300km.
“It’s difficult to patrol over all the area of the Spratly
Islands where China has been expanding and then return to the Philippines,”
said a source close to the government.
The TC-90 aircraft, which has a radius of action over twice that of
those in the Philippine Navy, is reportedly capable of covering most
of the Spratly Islands. The TC-90 being a training aircraft, the Philippine
Navy will likely be limited to visual inspection however as it is not
fitted with radar or electro optic systems. |
