Philippines also interested in Japanese Hueys, C-130 planes

From Ang Malaya (Jun 26): Philippines also interested in Japanese Hueys, C-130 planes

The Department of National Defense is also open to acquiring other excess Japanese military equipment, this was confirmed by Department of National Defense spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez on Thursday, June 25.

“If they (Japanese) will have excess defense articles (in the form) of Hueys and C-130 cargo planes, we will be very much interested in acquiring them,” he said in Filipino as reported by state media.

Galvez said the Philippine military will not have a hard time to “absorb” Hueys and C-130s as the country already has maintenance facilities, spare parts and know-how to operate these equipment as the military has the same sort of assets in its inventory.

Defense sources say Philippines and Japan are in talks for transfer of at least two to four P3-C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft.

“We are interested in acquiring them (P-3Cs) especially if they become excess defense articles as we can acquire it at a very reasonable price which is advantageous to the government,” Galvez said in earlier interview.

Japan is in the process of replacing its P-3Cs with its homegrown Kawasaki Heavy P-1 patrol aircraft which has twice the range of the “Orion” which is pegged at 2,380 nautical miles.

Asked if the country is ready to maintain and operate the P-3C, Galvez said the defense department will program it from its budget.

http://www.angmalaya.net/nation/2015/06/26/11709-philippines-also-interested-in-japanese-hueys-c-130-planes