MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is looking to strengthen its military drone capabilities as part of its ongoing efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said during a budget hearing on Tuesday.
The plan includes developing and acquiring more unmanned aerial systems as the country places greater emphasis on protecting its territory and waters amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea.
The AFP already uses drones mainly for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. Teodoro said the military may acquire additional systems as it gains more experience in operating the technology.
He did not disclose the specific drone models being considered, citing security concerns, but stressed that secure communications and reliable networks will also be important to make the systems effective.
The Philippines is also in contact with countries that have advanced experience in drone technology, including Ukraine.
The proposed expansion is part of the government's ₱50-billion military modernization allocation for 2027, which is 25% higher than the current year's allocation. The proposed overall defense budget for next year stands at ₱305.5 billion, a 6.3% increase.
The government says the modernization push is aimed at improving the country's external defense capabilities as the Philippines faces increasing security challenges in the region.
Photo: Reuters
