How will new longer-range aircraft boost Manila’s South China Sea surveillance?
The Philippine Coast Guard will receive three longer-range aircraft from the US, two of them modified for improved surveillance, giving Manila greater reach and endurance to monitor Chinese coastguard, naval and research vessels across the South China Sea. Under a US$39.6 million contract awarded by the United States Navy on September 28, the three second-hand, extended-range King Air 350-series…
The United States Navy has awarded a $39.6 million contract to extend the range of three second-hand King Air 350-series aircraft for the Philippine Coast Guard. These aircraft will be fitted with extended-range fuel systems, upgraded avionics and high-frequency radios, and maritime domain awareness intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.
The enhanced capability will allow the coastguard to patrol distant areas like Scarborough Shoal, the Spratly Islands and Batanes more effectively. Currently, the coastguard can only "loiter, evaluate, document completely and return home with time-stamped evidence" of Chinese vessels. The longer-range aircraft would enable crews to "loiter, evaluate, document completely and return home with time-stamped evidence" even if Chinese military aircraft forced them away, according to Raymond Powell, executive director of the SeaLight Foundation.
China has responded to Philippine surveillance flights by sending military aircraft to challenge them, most recently in October when a Chinese J-16 fighter repeatedly maneuvered dangerously close to a Philippine Air Force C-208 Caravan near Scarborough Shoal. Despite the added capabilities, experts believe the King Airs will not significantly alter Beijing's response, as Beijing can still send military aircraft to challenge Philippine flights around contested areas.
However, the improved surveillance could provide earlier warning of Chinese operations, allowing Manila to better decide which coastguard or military assets to deploy, and potentially reduce the chances of Philippine forces being surprised or outmatched.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
