US Military to arm the Philippines with more Marine Surveillance Drones
25 November, 2024- The United States is providing the Philippines with advanced surveillance drones to strengthen its defense against China’s growing territorial ambitions and maritime activities in the region.
On Wednesday, the Philippine News Agency released a photo of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin inspecting a T-12 Mantas unmanned surface vessel during his visit to Puerto Princesa on Palawan’s western coast. This area, near contested territories in the South China Sea, has seen ongoing disputes between Manila and Beijing over sovereignty and territorial waters.
According to Marine Capt. Joshua Estrada, a liaison officer at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, the Philippine Navy currently operates four T-12 surveillance drones along with another model, the T-38 Devil Ray. Secretary Austin announced plans to supply additional unmanned systems to further enhance the Philippines’ maritime monitoring and defense capabilities.
Speaking at the Western Command headquarters in Palawan, Austin highlighted the role of these drones in safeguarding the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. He pointed to a $500 million foreign military financing package that would enable the delivery of more advanced platforms like the T-12, designed to help the Philippines secure its sovereignty. Specific details on the number of drones or their individual costs were not disclosed.
The T-12, developed by Florida-based company Martac, is a 12-foot electric-powered vessel that can carry a 140-pound payload and be launched from either ship or shore. These surveillance drones are capable of long operational cycles, making them suitable for critical missions like intelligence gathering, security patrols, search and rescue, mine detection, and electronic warfare.
The success of Ukraine’s drone operations in the Black Sea since late 2022 has demonstrated the significant impact of unmanned systems on modern warfare. Deploying large numbers of affordable surveillance drones in contested areas like the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea could restrict enemy movements and increase the operational cost for adversaries. This approach aligns with the Pentagon’s Replicator program, designed to leverage drone technology for strategic dominance.
James Holmes of the Naval War College noted that the strategic use of drones in key waterways could effectively disrupt Chinese naval and aerial operations. “By deploying drones and missiles in these regions, allied forces can limit China’s freedom of movement and strike its assets within its own waters,” he explained.
However, some experts, including retired Navy Capt. Jan van Tol from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, warn of potential limitations. He emphasized that electronic warfare and physical obstacles could reduce the effectiveness of drones in certain scenarios. Despite these challenges, van Tol acknowledged that surveillance drones could play a vital role in geographically confined areas, overwhelming defenses and influencing enemy strategies with cost-effective deployments.
Do come back to MavDrones for the Latest Drone Innovation News as we bring you the newest updates on innovations in UAV technology and their global impact.
CEO, Mavdrones
