Pact with US could cover more military bases for ‘360-degree protection’
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Sunday that the country’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States could be further expanded to cover more military bases to improve the country’s defenses.
In an interview on radio dzBB, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilarsaid more EDCA sites, to be built up with US funding and which would be accessible to American troops and equipment, would provide the Philippine military with the capability to provide “360-degree protection.”
The government recently announced four new EDCA sites: Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan;Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the four additional EDCA sites would not be used for offensive actions.
The five existing EDCA locations are Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija,Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayande Oro City.
The Senate committee on foreign relations, however, questioned thelocation of the EDCA sites, particularly two that were near Taiwan, which is a bone of contention between China and the United States.
Over the weekend, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said it has been briefed on the operations and other specifications of the American-made MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system.
In a statement over the weekend, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. ConsueloCastillo said it was made possible during the air and missile defense subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) conducted by the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade of the United States Army at Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command in San Antonio, Zambales on April 19.
“During the learning session, subject matter experts from the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade discussed the operations, role, various specifications, capabilities, and key parts of the Patriot missile defense system involving the radar set, engagement control station, missile launchers, and the Patriot missile,” she said.
The Patriot is one of the premier missile systems of the United States and is classified as a high to medium air defense system.
The SMEE is part of the ongoing “Balikatan” joint military exercises, which started April 11 and will end on the 28th.
PAF participants are from the 960th Air and Missile Defense Group (AMDG), the operator of the newly activated ground-based air defense system (GBADS) consisting of SPYDER medium-range missiles from Israel.
The first two GBADS batteries were commissioned and activated by the PAF on Nov. 8 last year.
“The aforementioned exercise broadened the understanding of the Airand Missile System Operators of 960th AMDG on air and missile defense operations. Likewise, it strengthened ties and comradery between the PAF and its US counterparts,” Castillo said.
GBADS, also known as the SPYDER Philippines Air Defense System, is amobile air and missile defense system designed to protect critical installations, land-based fixed assets, mobile platforms, and friendly forces from aerial threats, such as combat aircraft, attack helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, incoming missiles, guided munition, and rockets.
The Philippines and Singapore are the only two countries in Southeast Asia operating the advanced missile system.
The first two GBAD batteries were delivered on Sept. 24 and 29, 2022, while the third battery is expected on May 24, 2024 under a P6.84 billion contract.
A typical PAF GBADS battery consists of a command-and-control unit,three main firing units equipped with four missile launchers, alongwith two support vehicles for field service and munitions resupply.