Philippine Navy Acquires Drone Boat Fleet For Protection & Surveillance

By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News  

In the midst of increasing pressure from China, the Philippine Navy is bolstering its ability to monitor the waters surrounding the island nation with a new unmanned surface vessel (USV) unit. 

   The unmanned vessels will add their capabilities to those of existing Philippine warships in a concept known as Manned-Unmanned Teaming. 

   The Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy, Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci, discussed the new unit with Naval News at Asia Defense and Security 2024, a military exhibition in Manila.  

   “We have to have USV units for IST (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) purposes so that we can improve our capability for maritime domain awareness, “ Adaci told the publication. “That’s how modern navies now evolve, using unmanned systems to complement manned systems.”  

   The USV unit would be part of an overall modernization of the Philippine Navy, with the priority being surface vessels and anti-submarine warfare. All this is taking place as China becomes more aggressive in the South China Sea. 

   This year, a number of incidents have occurred near what has become a familiar place – the Second Thomas Shoal. It’s located in the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone, and Manila has a deliberately-grounded warship and a small group of personnel there. 

   But Beijing claims roughly 90 percent of the South China Sea as its own. And the Chinese coast guard has used water cannon and ramming tactics to harass Philippine ships that patrol the region and resupply its forces on the shoal.