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THE PHILIPPINES is considering the extensive adoption of unmanned systems and drones across its military forces, a senior Defense department official remarked on Monday, as confrontations with China persist in the South China Sea.
Defense Assistant Secretary August V. Gaite stated that drones are crucial for enhancing Manila’s capacity to counteract threats to its sovereignty, labeling them as “important instruments” with diverse military uses including reconnaissance, logistics, and maritime awareness.
“Drone technologies improve our capability to detect, observe, devise, and act with heightened accuracy and swiftness,” the Defense department’s leading authority on technology research remarked during a keynote speech at a Philippine Navy conference.
Remotely controlled drones have turned into a foundation of contemporary warfare due to their extensive range and cost-effectiveness compared to other sophisticated armaments, such as missiles and fighter aircraft, and they have experienced significant combat application since Russia’s incursion into Ukraine in 2022.
“The swift advancement of drone systems, whether in the air, on land, at sea, or underwater, has fundamentally transformed how nations prepare for and react to threats,” Mr. Gaite commented.
He emphasized that the Philippines’ armed forces need to assert presence across various domains to defend its sovereignty, with drones providing a means to address crucial security deficiencies.
Philippine soldiers received training with unmanned weapon systems, including the US anti-ship Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and maritime drones, during a month-long collaborative exercise with US forces that commenced in April.
Unmanned systems are among the “most promising avenues” for the domestic defense sector to flourish, Mr. Gaite noted, highlighting that local engineers are already creating prototypes for military applications.
“The responsible development and integration of unmanned systems is no longer a choice; it is imperative,” he asserted. “The current challenge is to scale these innovations to close the divide between the prototype and production in both concept and capability.”
Additionally, on Monday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched a command to enhance collaboration with allied nations, focusing on joint exercises and defense activities.
Military chief General Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. expressed that the strategic command represents a “significant advancement” in reinforcing the armed forces’ defense posture and “joint force capability.”
“This is not simply the establishment of a new command; it marks the inception of a strategic vision,” he mentioned in a separate statement.
The AFP indicated that the strategic command would “function as a strategic hub where intelligence, operations, and civil-military roles converge to facilitate quicker decisions and improved interoperability.”
“It will manage and coordinate joint exercises and collaborations with allies and partners,” it continued.
Competing assertions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea have resulted in frequent confrontations marked by repeated use of water cannons and aggressive maneuvers by Chinese vessels against Philippine ships.
The maritime region has emerged as a regional flashpoint as Beijing claims sovereignty over nearly the entire waterway, in defiance of a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated its expansive claims.
Security collaborations with allies have been strengthened under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., who has adopted a firmer approach against Beijing’s extensive maritime claims compared to his predecessor.
The Philippines has increasingly relied on multinational cooperation to fortify its maritime capabilities and enhance interoperability with its partners in these tense waters. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
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