Philippines leases patrol aircraft
During President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Japan from 25-27 October, the Philippines signed an MoU and letter of arrangement with Tokyo to lease five TC-90 trainer aircraft that will be used for maritime surveillance and for pilot training.
The TC-90 is Japan’s nomenclature for the Beechcraft King Air, of which the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) employs 26 remaining aircraft as trainers. The Philippines will use the aircraft for maritime surveillance, a role in which the Philippine Navy (PN) is very weak.
Two aircraft will arrive in March or April 2017, while six PN aviators will head to Japan beforehand
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