Philippines seeks to restart lapsed MPA project
The maritime patrol requirements of the Philippines are as vast as its territory, but gaps could begin to be plugged soon.
Maritime patrol remains a critical capability for the Philippines, especially as China throws its expansionist weight around the South China Sea, so Manila is about to restart a bid to acquire two long-range aircraft. At the same time, the navy plans to obtain multiple smaller aircraft from the US for maritime patrol duties.
Under the banner of the Long-Range Patrol Aircraft Acquisition Project, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is allegedly set to restart a tender next year. The aircraft would be operated by the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing.
The project has been in abeyance since 2017, after the
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