PCG to get 3 aircraft from US for sea patrol

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday it will acquire three King Air aircraft from the United States to enhance its maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue capabilities.

The deal was formalized through a Letter of Offer and Acceptance signed by PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan and US Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs John Noh during a meeting in Makati City on Monday.

According to the Coast Guard, the aircraft, commonly used for maritime patrol, reconnaissance and medical evacuation, are expected to improve the coast guard’s maritime domain awareness (MDA).

Gavan said the acquisition comes as the PCG faces growing demands for faster response following recent maritime incidents, including a vessel collision in the West Philippine Sea involving MV Devon Bay and the sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 off Basilan in January that left dozens dead.

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Beyond the aircraft purchase, Gavan and Noh discussed the possible adoption of the US Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (Sarops). The agency’s website describes Sarops as a software that models drift and environmental conditions to optimize maritime search-and-rescue operations.

The meeting also covered broader US support for the PCG’s modernization, particularly in MDA operations in the West Philippine Sea, where the Philippines has reported repeated encounters with Chinese vessels.

In a separate development, Gavan disclosed that the PCG would take part in the Rim of the Pacific exercise, marking the first time a foreign coast guard would join the multinational naval drills. It is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, hosted by the United States.

He said the participation would expose PCG personnel to large-scale maritime operations and interoperability with other countries.

The PCG did not disclose the cost of the aircraft or the delivery timeline. /cb