The Philippine Air Force (PAF) embarked on the acquisition of new long range air surveillance radars to provide radar and surveillance coverage of Philippine airspace, including the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone (PADIZ).
These radars are also expected to replace long obsolete or non-working air surveillance radar systems operated by the PAF.
The project, called the Air Surveillance Radar Acquisition Project, is part of the Horizon 1 Phase Priority Projects under the Revised AFP Modernization Program.
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| The IAI Elta Systems ELM-2288ER AD-STAR Extended Range air defense and surveillance radar system. 3 units were delivered by IAI Elta Systems to the Philippine Air Force under the Horizon 1 phase of RAFPMP. |
Overview:
The Philippine Air Force submitted the Air Surveillance Radar Acquisition Project as a priority project for Horizon 1 phase of the RAFPMP. Three (3) units were planned for acquisition with a proposed budget of Php2,680,000,000.00.
The project was later on approved for implementation, with the quantity involved and the Approved Budget of Contract (ABC) unchanged from its proposed value.
The PAF's Technical Working Group (TWG) for the project shortlisted two (2) proponents: IAI Elta Systems which is supported by the Israeli Ministry of Defense-SIBAT, and Lockheed Martin supported by the US Department of Defense through Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) office in Manila. The radars on offer were the IAI Elta Systems ELM-2288ER AD-STAR Extended Range radar, and Lockheed Martin's AN/TPS-77.
After evaluation, it was found that IAI Elta System's offer was more acceptable to them, and the Department of National Defense (DND) released an Acquisition Decision Memorandun (ADM) in favor of going for a Government-to-Government (G2G) deal with the Israeli MOD-SIBAT to acquire the IAI Elta Systems ELM-2288ER.
Part of the agreement was for IAI Elta Systems to provide a free ELM-2106NG ATAR medium range tactical air defense radar, which is probably one of the reasons why the PAF selected IAI Elta Systems' offer.
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| Photo taken from the 580th ACWW's Facebook page. |
The contract for the project was signed on December 2014.
Based on the contract, the following delivery dates are expected:
* 1st radar for Gozar Air Station - November 2017
* 2nd radar for Paredes Air Station - May 2018
* 3rd radar for Mt. Salakot Air Station - November 2018.
While the first radar was delivered on November 2017, the delivery of the 2nd and 3rd radar units experienced delays and were only delivered to the Philippine Air Force on January 2019.
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| A theoretical infograph of what the coverage of the ELM-2288ER AD-STAR could be once installed on their assigned radar stations. Photo shared to MaxDefense by a contributor. |
Project Summary:
Air Surveillance Radar Acquisition Project (Horizon 1)
Note: Edited as of 21 June 2019.
* End User: Philippine Air Force (580th Aircraft Control Warning Wing)
* Quantity: 3 sets
* Modernization Phase: Horizon 1 Phase Priority Projects of RAFPMP
* Project ABC: Php2,680,000,000.00
* Acquisition Mode: Negotiated Procurement (Government-to-Government) with Israeli Ministry of Defense - SIBAT
* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund, to be paid via Multi-Year Obligation Authority (MYOA)
* SARO Release: TBA
* Winning Proponent: IAI Elta Systems Ltd. (Israel)
* Product for Delivery:
- 3 units IAI Elta Systems ELM-2288ER AD-STAR Extended Range Air Defense and Surveillance Radar System
- 1 unit IAI Elta Systems ELM-2106NG ADSR 3D Tactical Air Defense Radar (freebie)
* Contract Price: Php2,680,000,000.00
* First post by MaxDefense: 2013
* Searching Hashtag: #PAFASRAcquisition
* Status: Bidding process ongoing, Invitation to Bid released.
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U P D A T E S:
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10 July 2014:
The Philippine government was reportedly negotiating with Israel to deliver a promised "freebie" radar for it to be used once the Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) 2015 is hosted in Manila, once a contract between the Department of National Defense (DND) and IAI Elta Systems be signed soon.
This would allow the Armed Forces of the Philippines to deploy it to help secure the airspace while world leaders are visiting the city.
The radar was offered to sweeten the deal as IAI Elta was competing with American giant Lockheed Martin in securing the deal to supply Air Surveillance Radars to the Philippine Air Force. It would be used as a deployable gap-filler in situations like the APEC 2015 summit.
No confirmation was made on the model of the radar to be delivered.
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25 January 2016:
The report below confirmed that the Department of National Defense has already issued a Notice of Award to IAI-Elta Systems Ltd. of Israel for the supply of air surveillance and control radars for the Philippine Air Force.
It was originally scheduled in late 2014 but was delayed by the executive together with all other projects. Originally the Elta ELM-2288 AD-STAR (shown below) is the choice after beating an offer from Lockheed Martin for its FPS-117 radar, and should have included a free gap-filler radar. No confirmation if the same deal holds now.
The report from Philstar titled "DND forges P2.68-B deal for air surveillance radars" can be accessed HERE.
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30 September 2016:
As part of the ongoing ADAS 2016 defense exhibition in Manila, Shephard Media reported on the Day 2 Show Daily on the Philippine Air Force's acquisition of air defense and surveillance radars from Israel's IAI Elta worth $56 million.
The contract involves the delivery of three ELM-2288-ER AD-STAR over-the-horizon surveillance radars, whose contract was signed last December 2014. PAF expects the delivery of all 3 radar sets by 2017.
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| Photo taken from the ADAS 2016 show magazine from Shephard Media. |
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27 April 2017:
A photo was posted in social media of what appears to be the gap-filler radar that Israel provided as part of the Air Surveillance Radar acquisition project.
It was identified to be the IAI Elta Systems ELM-2106NG ATAR tactical medium range air defense radar similar to the one in the photo below.
This confirms that the radar is already in the Philippines and in possession with the Philippine Air Force, as IAI Elta Systems failed to deliver it during the previous APEC 2015 forum.
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| The IAI Elta Systems ELM-2106NG tactical medium range air defense and surveillance radar. |
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04 May 2017:
The Philippine Air Force posted a photo from the Air Force Safety Office (AFSO) digital magazine Safety Champions for the 1st quarter of 2017. The photo includes the IAI Elta Systems ELM-2106NG ATAR radar which appears to be in one of the PAF's existing radar installations.
MaxDefense sources later confirmed that the photo was from Wallace Air Station in San Fernando, La Union, which still operates the legacy air defense radars of the PAF.
It is still unclear though where the radar would be installed, or would it be deployed as a mobile radar into different locations as needed.
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| Photo of the magazine cover above shows the IAI Elta Systems ELM-2106NG ATAR radar. Photo taken from PAF website. |
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18 December 2017:
MaxDefense received confirmation from a source that the first ELM-2288ER AD-STAR radar intended for Gozar Air Station in Lubang Island has arrived last month, which meets the contract requirements of the project.
While the radar was delivered, it will take several more months before the facility and the radar can be considered operational to allow for installation, integration, and training of operators and maintenance personnel.
MaxDefense will provide further info on the project in future blogs or posts.
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| Gozar Air Station as it looked in the 1960s. The first ELM-2288ER radar would be installed in this radar facility. Credits to original source of the photo. |
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24 January 2019:
MaxDefense received confirmation from sources that the delivery of the two (2) remaining radar units from IAI Elta Systems Ltd. is "imminent".
It would be noted that the delivery of these radar systems should have been made on or before November 2018. It remains to be seen if the Department of National Defense (DND) imposed a penalty against IAI Elta Systems Ltd., or will it be negotiated considering the good relations between Israel and the Philippines especially in the defense sector.
Our blog entry on this delivery can be accessed on the link below:
"Delivery Imminent for the Philippine Air Force's 2 new Elta ELM-2288ER AD-STAR Air Defense Radars" - first posted 24 January 2019
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16 March 2019:
Due to Operational Security (OPSEC) reasons during the delivery period, MaxDefense delayed the announcement of the delivery of the two (2) remaining radar units, considering the delivery would be done in part by land.
In fact, the two radar units were received by the Philippine Air Force last January 2019, and are intended for the PAF's Gozar Air Station in Lubang Island, Mindoro, and for the Mt. Salakot Air Station in Palawan.
This completes the actual delivery of the radars, although proponent IAI Elta Systems Ltd. is still required to assist the PAF in installing, integrating, and activating the radar systems, while also training the operators and maintenance crew.
As of this writing, MaxDefense does not expect the radars to be operational already, although they are expected to be in service at least before the end of the 3rd Quarter of 2019.
Our blog entry on this delivery can be accessed on the link below:
"IAI Elta Systems complete delivery of ELM-2288ER Air Defense Radars for the Philippine Air Force" - first posted on 16 March 2019
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| This is a new radar dome and building constructed to accommodate one of the ELM-2288ER radars, location not mentioned. Credits to original source of photo. |
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