Huangyan Island Sounds Alarm! Philippine Helicopter Conducts Ultra-Low Altitude Intrusion, Suspected of Being Locked by China's 054B Frigate Fire-Control Radar!
On June 20, according to Philippine media Remate Online, the Philippine Navy's frigate "Diego Silang" set out toward the Huangyan Island area for a so-called "maritime sovereignty patrol." During its journey, it encountered four Chinese warships. Video footage released by Philippine media shows the presence of China's naval vessel 554 Tongliao and the Type 054B frigate 555 Qinzhou.
During the standoff, the "Diego Silang" launched its Augusta AW109 helicopter at a speed of 18 knots. According to Philippine pilot Wendel Cayago, the helicopter flew over Huangyan Island at an ultra-low altitude of 300 feet (approximately 91 meters). Meanwhile, Philippine media reported that a Chinese aircraft was circling at around 17,000 feet (about 5,180 meters) in high-altitude surveillance.
From June 14 to June 19, the Philippines and the United States conducted a six-day bilateral maritime cooperation activity near Huangyan Island—this being the fourth such exercise this year. The U.S. deployed Coast Guard patrol vessels and P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft, while the Philippines sent the "Diego Silang" frigate, FA-50 fighter jets, and AW109 helicopters. Notably, the final day of this joint exercise coincided with June 20—the very day of the confrontation.
The Type 054B frigate is equipped with a large S-band dual-faced rotating active phased array radar and an X-band fire-control tracking radar. The S-band radar excels in medium-to-long-range search, while the X-band radar offers high precision, ideal for accurate tracking and fire-control guidance. Faced with the Philippine helicopter’s ultra-low-altitude intrusion into territorial airspace, the 054B frigate has both the capability and justification to activate its fire-control radar for deterrence purposes.
Why did the Philippines stage this incident on June 20?
The immediate reason was to “wrap up” the U.S.-Philippines joint exercise. With the U.S. Coast Guard present for six days of exercises, failing to generate any visible “action” on the final day would make it difficult to justify the “results” domestically. Sending a helicopter over Huangyan Island, taking a few photos, and returning with a report of a “successful mission completion”—a well-worn routine.
An additional motive is to draw the U.S. Coast Guard into deeper involvement. Could more U.S. military vessels and aircraft soon appear near Huangyan Island under the guise of “joint law enforcement”? This possibility is quite real.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868573418510339/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.