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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH Navy sends off spy drone squadron

PH Navy sends off spy drone squadron

Published Sep 20, 2022 12:10 pm

The Philippine Navy (PN) has officially deployed its first ever advanced fixed-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) acquired from the United States for its maiden mission after it completed one year of training.

In a statement Monday, Sept. 19, the PN said that the Naval Air Wing (NAW) led by its commander, Capt. Juario Marayag, held a send-off ceremony for the ScanEagle UAS in its headquarters at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Sangley Point, Cavite last month.

The team that will operate the ScanEagle UAS is called the Maritime Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron 71 (MUARS71), NAW. The alpha flight or maiden flight of the squad is composed of five officers and nine maintenance crew.

"The send-off ceremony marks the first deployment for the Maritime Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron 71, NAW after completing their one year in-country training," the PN said.

“This is their first deployment for this type of air asset for the Philippine Navy to conduct different missions like patrols and surveillance to secure the sovereignty of our nation,” it emphasized.

The ScanEagle UAS was acquired by the PN from the United States and formally accepted on Nov. 25, 2020. It had an estimated cost of $14.79 million or around P710 million. The package was composed of eight small but long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles, two launchers, skyhook, and ground control station.

The spy drones were purchased through the Maritime Security Initiative Program that the PN requested from the US in 2017. The deal was formalized two years later after a series of dialogues with the Joint US Military Assistance Group-Philippines (JUSMAG-Philippines).

The spy drones are intended to boost the PN’s capability to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), special services operations, escort operations, sea lane and convoy protection, protection of high-value and secure installations as well as high-speed voice, video and data communications relay.

They are also intended to enhance the PN’s maritime domain awareness in the West Philippine Sea.

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