PH Navy to get more TC-90 planes

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) is inclined to give the Philippine Navy (PN) more Beechcraft King Air TC-90 patrol aircraft, Navy flag officer-in-command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad yesterday said.

“During my last visit to Japan, the head of the JMSDF said he is inclined to give the PN more of the aircraft (TC-90) they earlier gave us,” Empedrad said in Filipino in an interview with the military-run DWDD radio on Wednesday.

The JMSDF earlier had given the Navy five TC-90 patrol aircraft, three of which had been activated while the other two are being equipped and painted for Philippine service.

The TC-90 was offered by Japan shortly after the Agreement Concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology was finalized on Feb. 29, 2016.

The TC-90 has a range of more than 1,000 nautical miles and a cruising speed of 226 knots, and is capable of carrying eight passengers, along with the pilots.

These additional TC-90s are expected to boost the Navy’s capability in intelligence surveillance reconnaissance, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and maritime air surveillance, Empedrad said. PNA