Manila eyes drones to boost defense amid tensions in South China Sea

THE PHILIPPINES is looking at widely adopting unmanned systems and drones more broadly in its armed forces, a senior Defense department official said on Monday, as tensions with China continue to persist in the South China Sea.

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Defense Assistant Secretary August V. Gaite said drones are key to strengthening Manila’s ability to counter threats toits sovereignty, calling them “valuable tools” with wide military applications including surveillance, logistics and maritime awareness.

“Drone technologies enhance our ability to sense, see, design and act with greater precision and speed,” the Defense department's top official on technology research said in a keynote address at a Philippine Navy summit.

Remotely piloted drones have become a backbone in modern warfare due to their long-range reach and lower cost compared with other advanced weaponry, like missiles and fighter jets, and they have since seen heavy combat use since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“The rapid evolution of drone systems, whether in the air, on land, at sea, or beneath the waves, has fundamentally changed the way nations prepare for and respond to threats,” Mr. Gaite said.