Japan and the Philippines signed a 4.3 billion yen (about $27 million) grant agreement in Manila on Nov. 9. Under the project, Japan will provide a coastal radar system to the Philippine Navy and unmanned aircraft for surveillance to the Philippine Air Force.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry calls it the first transfer of defense equipment under its Official Security Assistance framework. The agreement sets up the transfer; the equipment has not been reported delivered. The ministry says the package is intended to strengthen the Philippines’ maritime monitoring capacity, including around important sea lanes.

Sources: [Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs](mofa.go.jp source ↗); [Associated Press](apnews.com source ↗); [Nippon.com/Jiji Press](nippon.com source ↗).