Philippines wants more patrol aircraft
As a way of getting more maritime patrol aircraft in the air, the Philippines is planning to buy new aircraft and lease retired aircraft.
These are both efforts to boost the Philippines’ weak EEZ monitoring and maritime patrol capabilities, especially in the face of what Manila sees as aggressive Chinese island-grabbing in the South China Sea.
One of the leasing options is for the retired TC-90 trainer aircraft from Japan, which will be used for maritime surveillance. Separately, the Philippines has relaunched a competition for long-range patrol aircraft.
A formal leasing agreement for up to five TC-90 trainer aircraft (TC-90 is Japan’s nomenclature for
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