Is the Philippine Air Force Getting Two Long-Range Patrol Aircrafts From Elbit Sytems?
Recently, the Israeli international defense electronics company Elbit Systems announced that it had won a $114-million contract to provide two long-range patrol planes to an undisclosed Asian-Pacific country. A report from this Israeli news outlet believes that it's the Philippines, based on findings from official documents.
According to the independent newspaper Haaretz, Elbit and the Philippines' deal will span five years. The said two long-range maritime patrol aircraft (LRPA) will be based on Italian-made ATR-72-600 planes. These said aircraft will be hooked with the company's specialized mission management systems, from radar and signaling to cyber and signals intelligence and more.
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While companies like Leonardo, Thales, and the like were said to have submitted proposals, Elbit came out on top because of steady relations. The Philippines and Israel have a long-standing partnership, too. Among some of the other Israeli arms the country has bought over the years include SPYDER mobile interceptors, anti-tank Spike missiles, and the like.
This particular purchase was supposedly part of the first stage of the Philippine Army's modernization program, which initially started in 2014. It came around the time that the Lower House approved the budget for the said program. The aircraft are low-maintenance, low-budget solutions to the Philippines' patroling initiatives.
The Department of National Defense, however, has yet to provide an official announcement on the matter.
