Elta Expected To Bag $57 million Philippine Radar Contract

Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) is a step closer to award a deal to Israeli firm for supplying three air surveillance radars worth P2.68 billion (US$56.09 million).

The Philippine government and Israeli company Elta System Ltd. could sign a contract for the radars anytime, DND Undersecretary Fernando Manalo told The Philippine Star. The radars may be delivered in 2017.

Manalo said a notice of award was issued to Elta early this month. The issuance of the notice of award is an important step in the procurement process as it leads to the actual implementation of the project.

“The signing will be done anytime,” Manalo said when asked for the status of the air surveillance radars project.

“The radars will enhance the capabilities of the Air Force in terms of maritime domain awareness,” he added.

Last year, The STAR reported that the Philippines would buy three air search radars from Israel to enhance its monitoring in the South China Sea, where more than $5 trillion worth of trade passes through every year.

Defense officials signed an implementation arrangement that would pave way to the purchase of the radars in February 2014.

The procurement, however, was stalled for some time as President Aquino only approved the revised military modernization program last July, six days before his final State of the Nation Address.