PAF seeks purchase of ‘flying radars’

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is looking at acquiring airborne early warning and control system (AEWACS) platforms that it hopes will boost its long-range capabilities to detect hostile aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles or any incoming projectiles.

“The PAF has proposed to higher offices the possible acquisition of the AEWACS and is part of our Re-Horizon proposed capability list,” PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said.

“The AEWACS provides airborne surveillance, command, control and communications capabilities, enabling a comprehensive air battle management system,” she said.

Castillo did not provide further information, but she noted that the PAF had already submitted its request and is deferring to the Department of National Defense for guidance.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. earlier talked about his plan for the acquisition of multi-role fighters (MRF) side by side with the acquisition of airborne warning and control system (AWACS) as well as aerial tankers that can be used for mid-air refueling.

“It is not only the purchase of the MRF per se which we need to deal with but also to make the MRFs operational as a force package, meaning to say we need the AWACS capability,” Teodoro said.

“A lot of countries have experienced the fact that they are realizing that they need AWACS,” he added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is eyeing more MRFs, which are more powerful than the FA-50 fighters already in PAF’s squadron.

Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura earlier noted that the Philippines, with its small air force, needs MRFs to achieve credible deterrence posture.

“Multi-role capabilities are different from the FA-50 capabilities. Multi-role allows us a greater reach and endurance. Its communication system allows us a better encryption. Its radar tracking is more enhanced. And the platform itself in terms of performance in terms of projecting the force that we require. Kasi it can carry a variety of air munitions that the FA-50 cannot,” he said.

The planned buildup of the country’s airpower comes amid China’s escalation of hostile activities in the West Philippine Sea. The military, however, insisted its force buildup is not linked to China’s growing belligerence.

The Philippines, meanwhile, has welcomed “the Quad” group of nations statement expressing serious concern about the situation in the South China Sea and keeping focus on incidents at sea the country regularly deals with.

“By highlighting the continuing dangerous and provocative actions, and the use of force and coercion in the South China Sea, the Quad Foreign Ministers has kept focus on the incidents that the Philippines has regularly contended with in the West Philippine Sea,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement yesterday. The Quad group comprises the United States, India, Australia and Japan.

In a joint statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral actions that attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. The statement was released following the July 1 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington.

The statement which did not directly mention China also underscored the need for a firm adherence to international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which remains the “legal framework within which all activities in the ocean and seas must be carried out.”

“We highly appreciate the Quad Foreign Ministers’ unequivocal support for the final and valid 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, further cementing its status as an unassailable part of the corpus of international law,” the DFA said.

“Such a landmark ruling under international law deserves full compliance in furtherance of the peaceful settlement of disputes,” it added.

The Philippines also welcomed the Quad’s commitment to build capacities across the Indo-Pacific region, especially in the areas of maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and support for humanitarian assistance and emergency response.

“Desiring to maintain regional peace and stability in the South China Sea and in the wider Indo-Pacific, the Philippines will continue to uphold the rules-based order governed by international law, particularly UNCLOS, and will continue to prioritize effective diplomacy and the constructive management of differences in addressing the situation at sea,” the DFA said. - Pia Lee-Brago