PHL looking for funds to acquire 'spy plane'

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 29): PHL looking for funds to acquire 'spy plane'

While desirous to acquire a "spy plane" (surveillance and patrol aircraft in military parlance), Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Monday admitted that the Philippines has no funds to acquire such equipment yet.

"We welcome the opportunity to have this kind of equipment but at the moment, we cannot afford to buy," he said.

Gazmin made this statement in response to queries on whether the DND is planning to acquire such aircraft for the use of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

However, he clarified that should such an opportunity to acquire such aircraft from Japan as excess defense articles present itself, they are "open to accept and procure such equipment."

Earlier reports claimed that Philippines and Japan are in talk about the possible transfer of Lockheed P-3C "Orion" maritime patrol aircraft to the country.

Japan is in the process of replacing its P-3C with the homegrown Kawasaki P-1 maritime aircraft which has twice the range of the "Orion" which is pegged at 2,380 nautical miles.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=777416