PAF unveils newest air surveillance system near West Philippine Sea

Blessing of ASRS Radar Tower f(rom Left to Right) BGen Ronie D Petinglay PAF, Wing Commander, 580th ACWW; MGen Augustine S Malinit PAF, Commander, Air Defense Command; LtGen Arthur M Cordura PAF, Vice Chief of Staff, AFP; LtGen Stephen P Parreño PAF, Commanding General, PAF; Sec. Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr., Department of National Defense; Kenichi Matsuda, Chargés d’Affaires ad Interim of Japan; Nishiwaki Osamu, Assistant Commissioner of Japan’s Ministry of Defense Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency; and Masahiko Arai, Corporate Executive, Group Senior Vice President, Defense and Space Systems Group,  Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. (Photo from Philippine Air Force)

MANILA, Philippines — In a move to bolster the nation’s deterrence capability against “threats and intrusions”, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday unveiled its newest and state of the art air surveillance system in a La Union installation facing the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The air surveillance radar system (ASRS) facility was built at Wallace Air Station in San Fernando City, where a turnover and blessing ceremony was conducted.

“The ASRS acquisition will enhance the country’s ability to monitor air and maritime activities in the region,” PAF said in a statement.

This capability upgrade comes amid China’s escalating aggressiveness in asserting its sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea — including most of the WPS — despite a landmark 2016 international tribunal ruling effectively dismissing its sweeping claims.

“With the early detection of any threats and intrusions within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, the PAF will be able to respond promptly to safeguard the country’s economic interests,” it added.

Made by Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, the three fixed long-range surveillance radars and one mobile air surveillance radar will be utilized by the PAF’s 580th Aircraft Control and Warning Wing, whose personnel underwent training in Japan.

Also included in the system are radar tower and radome, command and control building, communications infrastructure, electric power generator building and housing for the mobile radar and its vehicles.

The ASRS are designed for early warning, as well as land and maritime surveillance, whether for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, or remotely piloted vehicles.

The system is capable of active electronic scanned array, more than 300 nautical miles instrumented range, 95 percent “detection probability”, air defense and ballistic missile defense mode, according to PAF.

“It will provide near-real time information and overall air situational picture for our strategic decision-makers in all spectrum of operations thus making the PAF responsive to the national security requirements,” it added.

The 5.5 billion-worth acquisition is part of the Horizon Two or second phase of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program.

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