As the situation in the South China Sea continues to escalate, the Philippines is accelerating its efforts to enhance its military unmanned system capabilities. Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro announced on Tuesday that they plan to further develop and acquire drones, as well as strengthen their related communication, network, and operational integration capabilities.
Prior to this, the United States had transferred four Triton unmanned surface vessels to the Philippines in June this year.
During a budget hearing at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Teodoro stated that the Philippine armed forces currently possess a fleet of drones used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, with plans for expansion in the future.
“As we mature in this area, we will be able to procure more,” he said.
With the increasingly frequent standoffs between China and the Philippines in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, the Philippines has shifted its defense focus from internal threats to external security in recent years.
The Philippine government has proposed allocating 50 billion pesos (approximately $8.1 billion) for military modernization next year, a 25% increase from this year. The Philippines also plans to acquire more missile-equipped light frigates and other key defense equipment to enhance its external defense capabilities.
Teodoro emphasized that expanding drone capabilities is not just about adding equipment or personnel, but more importantly about integrating unmanned systems into military operations.
“It is more important to integrate them into operations than personnel – what you want to do with them and how to use them,” he said, emphasizing the importance of establishing secure communication and network capabilities.
In June this year, the United States transferred four Ocean Aero Triton autonomous surface vessels to the Philippines, with a total value of $13 million. These solar-powered unmanned surface vehicles can autonomously navigate on the surface and underwater, submerging up to 100 meters, operating underwater for up to 10 days, and patrolling on the surface for up to 30 days.
According to Defense News, Triton can carry cameras, thermal imaging equipment, and sonar for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, anti-submarine, anti-mine, and support for maritime strike missions.
The U.S. stated that such long-endurance unmanned systems can help the Philippines enhance monitoring of critical waterways and address maritime security challenges such as illegal fishing and gray zone activities.
Bridgette Walker, Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, stated, “The future of maritime security is not just about platforms, but also about capabilities, speed, and coverage.”
She also mentioned that the vast expanse of the Indo-Pacific region cannot be continuously monitored by a single warship or aircraft alone.
“Triton extends the capabilities of the Philippine Navy to critical waterways, filling this gap,” Walker said.
These Triton vessels are also part of the U.S.-Philippines “asymmetric capability plan.” According to USNI News, the U.S. plans to assist the Philippines in acquiring combat capabilities, including armed drones, by 2027 through this security assistance initiative. Initially focused on the Philippine Navy, the cooperation has now expanded to the Marine Corps, with the Philippine Army also evaluating relevant systems.
Furthermore, the Philippines is also in contact with other countries possessing drone technology. In June, Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines Yuliia Fediv announced discussions on drone technology cooperation between Kyiv and Manila.