Philippines to receive 2 ordered Israeli-made ELM-2288ER long range air defense radars soon

The IAI Elta ELM-2288ER Extended Range air defense radar system. Three units were ordered by the Philippine Air Force, with the last 2 units to be delivered soon.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is scheduled to receive two (2) IAI Elta ELM-2288ER AD-STAR Extended Range long range air defense and surveillance radar system, which were part of the three units ordered under its Air Defense and Surveillance Radar project.

According to Philippine defense page MaxDefense Philippines, the radars were originally scheduled for delivery last year, but did not push through as scheduled for some reason.

The radars were purchased in 2014 under a PHP2.68 billion Government-to-Government deal between the Philippines and Israel, winning over 2 other offers from contemporaries from the US and France. Aside from the ELM-2288ER radars, the PAF also received an Elta ELM-2106NG tactical air defense radar.

The radars were said to be for installation in the provinces of Mindoro and Palawan, all facing the Philippines' western seaboard where territorial disputes with China and other countries are ongoing. The first AD-STAR radar delivered in late 2017 was installed in the northern Philippine province of Ilocos Norte.

The Philippine Air Force is expected to order 5 more long range air defense radars, which is currently contested by IAI Elta, Mitsubishi Electric of Japan, Lockheed Martin of the US, Thales Nederland, Sweden's Saab Group, and others.

Aside from the Philippines, neighboring Vietnam also operate a number of Israeli-made radars including the IAI Elta ELM-2288 AD-STAR.


[1] MaxDefense Philippines
[2] Nikkei Asian Review
[3] Rappler
[4] Tuoi Tre News