Japan and the Philippines signed a ¥4.3 billion ($27 million) defense grant project for radar and surveillance aircraft, aimed at improving Philippine maritime monitoring in strategically important waters.
Japanese Ambassador KITAGAWA Katsuro and Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro signed the agreement in Manila on Nov. 9, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said. The dollar estimate is based on the Bank of Japan’s Nov. 5 exchange rate.
The project aims to provide a coastal radar system to the Philippine Navy and unmanned aircraft to the Philippine Air Force. Japan’s Foreign Ministry described it as the country’s first defense-equipment transfer project under Official Security Assistance (OSA). The ministry describes OSA as grant aid.
Japan said the equipment is expected to strengthen the Philippines’ maritime surveillance capability. In explaining its support, Tokyo pointed to the South China Sea and Luzon Strait as sea lanes important to Japan.
The agreement follows an earlier Japanese grant for Philippine coastal radar. The countries signed that ¥600 million grant in 2023, and a handover ceremony for the systems took place on Feb. 11, 2026. The earlier project provides a precedent for Japan’s current radar assistance, while the Nov. 9 agreement adds unmanned aircraft to the planned support.
At a May 5, 2026, meeting, the two countries’ defense ministers expressed concern about China’s activities in the South China Sea and agreed to deepen cooperation on maritime monitoring, according to their joint statement. The new project’s stated purpose is to support Philippine surveillance; Japan has also identified the security of regional sea lanes as a reason for the assistance.
