Japan's security aid to help PAF boost maritime domain awareness
Philippine News Agency
By Priam Nepomuceno
June 25, 2025, 9:50 am
MANILA -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA) will enable it to enhance its maritime domain awareness (MDA) capability.
"We have actually a very progressively increasing defense relationship, a very healthy defense relationship with our ally that is Japan. The OSA will provide us avenues to increase or enhance our capabilities particularly on MDA," PAF chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura said in an interview with reporters in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City Tuesday afternoon.
Cordura made the remark when asked on how the Philippines' inclusion to the OSA would benefit the PAF.
MDA refers to understanding activities, events, and conditions in the maritime environment that could impact security, safety, the economy.
"Our priority here is our sensors, radars. In addition, OSA allows us (to) access HADR (humanitarian assistance disaster relief) platforms also, and equipment," Cordura said.
"So, these are amongst the capability requirements that are already incorporated and up for obligation under the OSA to be delivered by our partner that is Japan," he added.
The Philippines was among the four countries Japan identified as recipients of its OSA for fiscal year 2024.
Japan provided the PAF and the Philippine Navy at least 1.6 billion Japanese yen or approximately PHP611 million worth of defense equipment.
This is the second OSA that Manila received from Tokyo, following the first 600 million Japanese yen or about PHP235 million grant aid that was spent on coastal radars in 2023. (PNA)
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