US to deploy spy plane in 5-day sea exercises

MANILA, Philippines - The United States military is deploying a P-3C “Orion” spy plane in General Santos City and Davao in line with the five-day Philippine Navy inter-agency sea exercises, which is aimed to further test operational capabilities of the Coast Watch South project.

A US and an Australian-funded project, Coast Watch South is designed to monitor all sea activities within the country’s porous southern backdoor, being entry and exit points of local and foreign terrorists as well as other international crime syndicates traveling to and from Mindanao.

“The Philippine Navy will conduct the second phase of the Watch South Capability Exercise 2012 (CAPEX 2012) which is the Command Post Exercises/Fleet Training Exercises (CPX/FTX) at the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao area of responsibility,” Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao commander Commodore Philip Cacayan said.

The P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft will support the naval assets, including a gunboat, an islander aircraft, and other floating assets.

The five-day sea drill, which will start tomorrow and culminate on Friday, will cover the high seas of Davao and General Santos City.

The drill will simulate the actual operations of the coast watch systems and its coast watch stations in addressing maritime security in Eastern Mindanao.

Last month, the joint Cooperation Readiness Afloat and Training 2012 (CARAT 2012) was also held in the area with the active participation of a US Navy frigate and its coast guard vessel in support of the deployed Navy gunboats and the Philippine Coast Guard ship.