Elta, Triton Expected to Bag Contracts from Philippines

The Philippines’ Defense Department is expected to award military modernization projects to Elta System Ltd and Triton Communication Corp for the supply of air surveillance radars and drones respectively.

Data obtained by The STAR showed that the military projects awaiting the issuance of notices of award are the air surveillance radars worth P2.68 billion (US$56 million), Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System Acquisition Project or drones worth P684 million (US$14 million), eight amphibious assault vehicles worth P2.5-billion (US$53 million), and Air Force full motion flight simulators worth P246 million (US$ 5 million).

The procurement process of the four projects moved forward after President Aquino approved the shopping list of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program last July.

Last year, The STAR reported that the Philippines would buy three air search radars from Israel to strengthen its monitoring activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Defense officials signed an implementation arrangement that would pave way to the purchase in February 2014.

The supplier of the drones under the Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System Acquisition Project will be Triton Communication Corp.

The project involves the acquisition of six sets of drones or small unmanned aerial vehicle sub-system, nine sets of target acquisition device sub-systems, 12 kits of tactical sensor integration sub-systems, and an integrated logistics support package.

Other expected awardees are South Korean firm Hanwha Techwin to supply eight amphibious assault vehicles and Pennsylvania-based firm Environmental Tectonics Corp for flight simulators.