The Philippine Navy is looking to improve its maritime domain awareness capabilities through the creation of a new unmanned surface vessel (USV) unit, Naval News has learned.
Commander of the Philippine Navy, Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci, confirmed the existence of the service’s new drone unit during an interview on the sidelines of the 5th iteration of the Asia Defense and Security Exhibition (ADAS). According to Adaci, the main mission of the drones is the bolster the service’s ability to monitor Philippine waters.
“We have to have USV units for ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance] purposes so that we can improve our capability for maritime domain awareness. That’s how modern navies now evolve, using unmanned systems to complement manned systems.”
Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy, Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci
Manila has been facing an increasingly assertive China in an area of the South China Sea that it designates under its exclusive economic zone, dubbed the West Philippine Sea. Since last year, numerous incidents with Chinese forces over the disputed maritime features of Scarborough and Second Thomas Shoals resulted in numerous Philippine Coast Guard vessels suffering damages and even a Philippine Navy SEAL losing his finger following a severe incident on June 17th.
Amid these challenges, the Philippines has set out to modernize its naval forces with the beginning of Horizon 3, the last phase of Manila’s military modernization program. Priorities for the fleet’s modernization include surface vessels and anti-submarine capabilities. Alongside these focuses, Adaci stressed the need for these unmanned capabilities to supplement the service’s existing warships, referring to a concept known as Manned-Unmanned Teaming.
While the status of the procurement, training, and composition of the USV unit is unclear, media releases from the Philippine Navy including the formation’s insignia have appeared within the last year. Social media posts from June of the service’s Asymmetric Warfare Symposium further reveal the presence of the unit displaying a small drone. Naval News also understands that elements of the USV unit are based at Naval Operating Base Subic, which currently hosts the majority of the country’s most modern naval assets.
International companies, such as South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, advertised their unmanned systems at ADAS. The company’s Sea GHOST (Guardian Harmonized with Operating manned Systems and Technology-based unmanned system) took up a prominent position at the center of the booth. Last winter, the system was reportedly demonstrated to the Philippine Navy during ROKS Hwacheon’s (AOE-59) port stop in Manila.
On the topic of maritime domain awareness, Adaci also highlighted the Philippine Navy’s plans to “acquire aircraft for maritime domain awareness purposes.” In the fall of 2023, the service’s Naval Air Wing unveiled its “ambitious plans” to procure three Anti-Submarine Fixed Wing Maritime Patrol Aircraft and induct them into service between 2027 and 2033. In combination with the fleet’s frigates, the maritime patrol aircraft would “detect and deter potential threats beneath the waves” and maintain a “vigilant and continuous scrutiny” of the country’s waters. The Philippine Air Force is expecting to receive two Long-Range Patrol Aircraft from Israeli Aerospace Industries next year.
The Philippine Navy chief also voiced his desire to upgrade the service’s littoral monitoring stations, which are scattered throughout the country’s 7,641 islands. These land-based stations, typically equipped with short-range radar and cameras, can be found in the Luzon Strait and the South China Sea. According to one document, there exists a littoral monitoring station at Second Thomas Shoal onboard BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57).
