Japan to lease TC-90s to Philippines

Japan has announced a plan to lease up to 5 retired TC-90 trainers to the Philippines for them to use as a maritime surveillance aircraft. Originally Japan was going to donate the aircraft to the Philippines government, under their official development assistance plan. However, the ODA is only for non-military assistance, so they were unable to donate or sell them. Instead, they will lease them for "several million yen" a year. One million Yen is approximately $8900 USD. Japanese law makes it difficult to donate national property.

The aircraft have limited radar, and no sensor capability, so it's believed that they will be used for visual searches of Philippine waters, and territory near the Spratly Islands. The Philippines currently has almost no capability to monitor the area.

The government plans to lease retired Maritime Self-Defense Force TC-90 training aircraft to the Philippine Navy, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

The Philippines will use the aircraft for air patrol missions related to China’s maritime expansion in the South China Sea, according to informed sources. The Japanese and Philippine governments are expected to agree on the lease of the aircraft as early as this spring.

Aircraft currently used by the Philippine Navy for air patrol missions have a short range, with a radius of action of about 300 kilometers. “It’s difficult to patrol over all the area of the Spratly Islands where China has been expanding and then return to the Philippines,” a source close to the government said.

The Philippines is in a dispute with China over Subi Reef, Mischief Reef and other parts of the Spratly Islands, and therefore sought aircraft with a longer range.

www.the-japan-news.com...

Multiple fronts for the Chinese to patrol.

China has started basing fighter aircraft in the newly built islands. They have also decided to install air defense missiles. The USA has just said you are not going to declare an ADIZ (air defense zone) around the islands so we will just ignore your claims and preparations.

If the USA et al is serious about keeping the sea lanes and airspace open in the area they need to step up the game IMO which according to the video they have.
youtu.be...