The Philippines is looking to further enhance its defense technology capabilities by collaborating with Poland, one of the most respectable European countries in the industry.
This was revealed when Polish Embassy in Manila Chargé d' affaires (CDA) Jaroslaw Sozczepankiewicz paid a courtesy call on Department of National Defense (DND) Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr. in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Thursday, August 4.
Faustino and Sozczepankiewicz discussed logistics and defense industry collaboration particularly on defense technology, according to DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong.
"The importance of training and sustaining existing technology through providing service centers and maintenance of equipment was underscored, with the CDA exploring possible areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Poland to include sharing of experiences with certain defense technology," Andolong said.
Duing the meeting, Faustino acknowledged that former Defense Secretary and now Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Chairman Delfin Lorenzana proposed the establishment of a dialogue mechanism between the defense establishments of the Philippines and Poland during his visit there in 2021.
"The CDA welcomed prospects of defense cooperation between the Philippines and Poland," Andolong said.
Faustino also conveyed the "positive feedback" on the S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters that were previously transferred by Poland to the Philippines.
The DND procured 16 units of Black Hawks from Polish aerospace manufacturer, PZL Mielec, for around P11.5 billion which were successfully delivered from 2020 to 2021.
Aside from defense technology, the two officials also exchanged views on the current regional and global security situation as well as long-term security outlooks and the existing alliances of their respective countries.
"Both sides also mentioned the economy and the importance of food security," Andolong added.
Poland is one of the European countries that has existing defense relations with the Philippines.