Philippine Space Agency partners up with the Department of National Defense to strengthen information exchange and capacity building for space science and technology applications
Countries around the globe are watching the war between Russia and Ukraine. Aside from strengthening a country’s armed forces, what else could be done to prevent an invasion?
“Through earth observation satellites, we would have an ‘eye in the sky’ that would get images of different locations while orbiting. (This would enable the country to) observe man-made structures like buildings and streets, presence of ships, the natural environment,” Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) director Joel Marciano Jr. said in a recent interview with the Philippine News Agency.
Thanks to communication satellites, according to Marciano, the unserved and underserved areas in the country could receive pertinent information and services.
“Space technology boosts the capability to address challenges on environmental protection, territorial integrity, disaster risk reduction and response, livelihood, productivity and resilience, which are all part of strengthening national security and development,” he explained.
Last month, PhilSA inked an agreement with the Department of National Defense (DND) to enhance national security and development efforts through space science and technology applications (SSTA).
‘Space technology boosts the capability to address challenges on environmental protection, territorial integrity, disaster risk reduction and response, livelihood, productivity and resilience, which are all part of strengthening national security and development.’
PhilSA and DND have agreed to collaborate closely, sharing of know-how on SSTA and other related information, partnering up on capacity building and joint training on the application of satellite-based technologies, including remote sensing, geographic information systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and satellite communications, working together on research and development (R&D) activities, conditional exchange, and/or co-location of experts and personnel, and organizing public conferences, symposia, workshops, and events.
“This partnership between PhilSA and DND will strengthen the information exchange and SSTA capacity building. DND will play a huge role in creating a strong and robust local space ecosystem,” Marciano said.
Both parties are hoping to boost R&D collaboration and contribute to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through space innovations.
Prior to signing a memorandum of agreement with DND, PhilSA has been working closely with the defense and security sectors.
It collaborates with different units of the AFP in satellite data product development for maritime domain awareness, area surveillance and monitoring, and other satellite applications for defense and security.
It has also been training with the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force on the use of satellite images and AI for automated object detection.
It also has an memorandum of agreement with the National Coast Watch Center to boost maritime security through space-enabled technologies. (PNA)