Philippines to acquire 3 more planes from Japan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy is expecting to receive three Beechcraft TC-90 surveillance and patrol planes from the Japanese government by next week.

Japan initially leased five aircraft to the Philippines for $28,000 a year in support of the country's territorial maritime air monitoring.

Two of the five TC-90 trainer aircraft were already delivered to the Philippine Navy in March 2017. The delivery of the other three planes this month would complete the transfer of the five aircraft.

The transfer of the three TC-90s is schedlued on Monday at the Cavite Naval Base, according to a report from Kyodo News.

"The TC-90s will enhance Philippine Navy's capability to conduct aerial surveillance and recon of our territorial waters," Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong told Kyodo News.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said that Philippine pilots and maintenance workers were training in Japan for the operation of the aircraft.

The aircraft that Tokyo will be donating to the Philippines are all retired patrol and monitoring trainer planes of Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force.

The Aquino administration initiated the transfer of the Japanese aircraft in search for air assets that can be used to patrol and guard the country's maritime and territorial domain amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

According to the DND, the Japanese government canceled the lease agreement and decided to donate the five planes to the Philippine Navy instead. — Patricia Lourdes Viray