The Pentagon announced that the United States will transfer three King Air turboprop aircraft equipped for maritime domain awareness operations to the Philippine Coast Guard.

Technology Service Corp. was awarded a $39 million contract for the procurement and integration of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance kits onto King Air 350 Extended Range aircraft. Two of the three aircraft will receive the ISR hardware and software modifications.

The contract also covers training on the surveillance suites and operation of the aircraft. The transfer builds on an agreement finalized in February between U.S. and Philippine Coast Guard officials.

The move is Washington's latest effort to bolster Manila's maritime surveillance capabilities amid tensions in the South China Sea.

Source: USNI News