Lorenzana inks pact with Japan for Air Force’s air surveillance radar system

The Horizon 2 Air Surveillance Radar System (ASRS) acquisition project of the Philippine Air Force will push through after Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana inked an agreement with Japan.

According to the Department of National Defense on Friday, Lorenzana signed the contract agreement and notice to proceed last August 14.

The DND said the project, which has an approved budget for a contract of P5,500,000,000, was awarded to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) with a total contract price of $103,500,000.

"This cooperation signifies Japan’s first time to export Japanese-made defense equipment under a restructured government policy, permitting sales of defense equipment, as long as it is deemed for the promotion of international peace," the DND said.

"This is also the first defense equipment and technology cooperation project between the two countries in realization of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Japan concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology signed in 2016," it added.

The recommended ASRS sites will cover large areas of the Philippine Rise, southern portion of the Philippines, and the southern area of the West Philippine Sea, according to the DND.

The ASRS would help the Philippine Air Force "to provide optimal airspace monitoring, aircraft control, perform its Air Defense mission and enhance the security in areas of interest identified by the DND."

The DND noted that the ASRS would help to detect, identify, and correlate any threats and intrusions within the Philippine's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and deliver radar images to decision-makers and relevant operating units.

The ASRS package includes three fixed long-range Air Surveillance Radars, each with building facilities, and one mobile Air Surveillance Radar. They are expected to be delivered to the Philippines in 2022. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News