Japan Agrees to Lease ex-JMSDF Beechcraft TC-90 King Air to the Philippine Navy

: Posted On Wednesday, 04 May 2016 11:22

Naval Forces News - Japan, Philippines

Japan Agrees to Lease ex-JMSDF Beechcraft TC-90 King Air to the Philippine Navy

According to Japanese newspaper TheJapanTimes, the Japanese government has agreed to lease Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) TC-90 training aircraft to the Philippine Navy who will use the aircraft for air patrol missions related to China’s maritime expansion in the South China Sea. This is the first time for Japan to lend military aircraft to a foreign country.

Beechcraft TC-90 King Air used as training aircraft by the JMSDF. Picture: JMSDF

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin confirmed the deal by telephone Monday evening. The agreement to lease up to five TC-90 aircraft is aimed at strengthening the Philippines’ maritime security capabilities as China’s becomes increasingly assertive in the South China Sea.

Aircraft currently used by the Philippine Navy for air patrol missions have a limited range of about 300km.

“It’s difficult to patrol over all the area of the Spratly Islands where China has been expanding and then return to the Philippines,” said a source close to the government.

The TC-90 aircraft, which has a radius of action over twice that of those in the Philippine Navy, is reportedly capable of covering most of the Spratly Islands. The TC-90 being a training aircraft, the Philippine Navy will likely be limited to visual inspection however as it is not fitted with radar or electro optic systems.