The government has begun the final phase of negotiations with the Philippines to export homemade air defense radar systems capable of detecting and tracking fighter jets and missiles.
The expected deal of about 10 billion yen will be the first export of domestically completed defense products based on Japan's "three principles on transfer of defense equipment" decided by the Cabinet in April 2014.
The defense equipment designated for export are upgraded versions of fixed air surveillance radar system FPS-3 and mobile air defense radar system TPS-P14, both manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Corp.
With China's recent rapid establishment of a military foothold in the South China Sea, Japan aims to keep such Chinese activities in check by enhancing the Philippines' capabilities for surveillance and monitoring with the radar systems.
The governments of Japan and the Philippines have been negotiating to reach an agreement this spring. The negotiation has been temporarily stalled, however, because the access to and from the greater Manila area is effectively suspended in a bid to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. The situation likely requires that both governments extend the time to realizing the export deal.
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