Four drones worth P200 million have been provided by the United States (US) to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to boost the country's capabilities in surveillance as well as in disaster relief missions.
The US military through the US Embassy in the Philippines has turned over the four ScanEagle unmanned aerial systems (UAS) equipment on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
The equipment "will provide additional capabilities in unmanned intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and in support of counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts."
Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim (CDA) Heather Variava of the US Embassy in Manila, who led the turnover of the UAS, said that the drones also aim to increase the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ domain awareness and border security capabilities.
“We remain committed to our promises on helping modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and we hope this will further strengthen our combined capabilities in working together towards a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Variava said.
During the turnover of the equipment, the American envoy was joined by Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino and representatives from the US Embassy in the Philippines’ Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG). It was received by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes, PAF commanding general.
The United States provides the AFP with grant assistance and expedited sales of arms and munitions to support its modernization goals and urgent maritime security, counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief requirements.
The Philippines is by far the largest recipient of US military assistance in the Indo-Pacific region.
Since 2015, the United States has delivered more than P50.6 billion ($1.06 billion) worth of planes, ships, armored vehicles, small arms, and other military equipment to the Philippines, while training side-by-side with Filipino allies.