Japan gives the Philippines a coastal radar system and surveillance drones – the first complete defence system under the OSA programme

Japan is moving to a new stage in its military aid to the Philippines. Japan’s foreign ministry announced on Monday, November 9, that it will deliver to the Philippine Navy a coastal radar system and to the Philippine Air Force unmanned surveillance aircraft, with a combined value of 4.3 billion yen, about 27 million dollars.

The agreements were signed in Manila by Japanese Ambassador Katsuro Kitagawa and Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro. The funding comes through Official Security Assistance (OSA), the programme Tokyo launched in fiscal 2023 to provide defence equipment to the armed forces of like-minded countries.

The first complete Japanese defence system

The significance lies in the type of equipment. Until now OSA deliveries were limited to dual-use products and components, meaning equipment with civilian and military applications. The coastal radar for the Manila navy will be the first complete Japanese-made defence product transferred through the programme. The drones going to the Philippine Air Force are dual-use equipment intended for monitoring and surveillance missions.

Japan’s foreign ministry calls the project of “great significance” for further advancing security cooperation between the two countries, strengthening the safety of sea lanes important to Japan and maintaining and strengthening peace and stability in the region. The Philippines, which neighbours important sea routes, receives assistance from the programme every fiscal year.

China in the background

Tokyo and Manila, both US allies, have deepened security cooperation in recent years, with a shared concern over China’s growing military activity in the Indo-Pacific. Beijing claims the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, controlled by Japan in the East China Sea, and has open territorial disputes with the Philippines and other countries in the South China Sea. Tension with Manila went as far as President Marcos’s summoning of the Chinese ambassador over his remarks on the use of force.

The Japanese aid comes as Manila looks for other suppliers for the defence of its islands, as shown by the Philippine request for BrahMos missiles tailored to its needs. The aim of the delivery is to strengthen the deterrent ability of the Philippine armed forces against China’s assertive moves, and Tokyo is considering providing complete systems through OSA to other countries too. It is also widening defence transfers, as with its agreement on transferring defence equipment and technology with Finland.