Ukraine is looking to deepen defense cooperation with the Philippines through a planned agreement that could pave the way for joint drone production.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines Yuliia Fediv said over the weekend that both countries are working toward signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defense cooperation by October. A high-level Ukrainian delegation, including officials from the Ministry of Defense, is expected to visit Manila to meet with their Philippine counterparts.
“The first step is to sign an agreement on defense between Ukraine and the Philippine government to create the legal framework for the next steps,” Fediv said at a forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands. “If we sign the MoU this October, then we can move forward with co-production.”
According to Fediv, a draft of the agreement has already been submitted to the Philippine Department of National Defense and is awaiting feedback.
“Right now, Ukraine is developing different models and proposals (of drones) for countries all over the world, how we can co-produce and how we can exchange our knowledge and technologies,” she said. “You are our reliable partner in the region. That’s why we are open to share with you all we have—both the good and the hard lessons learned.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s first non-resident defense attaché to the Philippines, Col. Andrii Bilenkyi, conducted courtesy visits to several military units in Manila last week, including the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army and the Philippine Navy headquarters. Discussions reportedly focused on potential cooperation in technology, training, and capability development.
Ukraine has significantly ramped up its drone defense production since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Drones have played a pivotal role in the ongoing war, with both sides leveraging the rapidly evolving technology. Ukraine, a country lacking major surface combatants, was able to sink a large number of surface vessels of the Russian Black Sea fleet via the use of maritime drones.
H I Sutton, a regular contributor to Naval News, analyst and OSINT expert, said that Ukraine is the world leader in the practical application of drone boats (known as uncrewed surface vessels or USV), “It has several companies able to design, build and advise on surface drones”, he added.
“Ukrainian style drones could present a serious challenge to the People’s Republic of China, who have been increasingly assertive in the West Philippine Sea. Overall the Philippines, despite several recent warship acquisitions, will be outnumbered and outgunned by the PRC. But as the war in the Black Sea has shown, small inexpensive uncrewed platforms can reshape the naval arena and create viable ways to blunt a conventional navy’s power. It is the classic application of asymmetric warfare”.
H I Sutton
Other experts have suggested that the Philippines can learn from Ukraine’s experience, especially in strengthening asymmetric warfare capabilities to help counterbalance its limitations in conventional military power. The Philippine military is currently modernizing its arsenal as it aims to counter China’s military might in the region.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said in July that they are exploring alternative defense capabilities, including drones and other unmanned systems, as temporary substitutes for submarines.
