The US Marine Corps has temporarily deployed a drone unit to assist Philippine maritime security operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), where tensions between Manila and Beijing continue.
Reports from USNI News said Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 1—an Arizona-based unit equipped with MQ-9A Reapers—was sent to the Philippines to support “Philippine regional maritime security.”
The deployment also strengthens the U.S.–Philippine alliance by boosting maritime domain awareness capabilities.
“The temporary stationing of unarmed MQ-9As to the Philippines demonstrates mutual commitment to improving the collective maritime security and supports our common goal for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the Marine Corps Forces Pacific said.
The Marine Expeditionary Force previously confirmed the presence of Reaper drones at Basa Air Base in June 2024, citing similar intelligence support efforts at the request of the Philippine government.
Basa Air Base is one of nine sites where American forces can rotationally deploy forces and construct facilities across the Southeast Asian archipelago under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
In recent years, the air base has received several U.S.-funded projects to improve its runway and aircraft facilities.
Marine Corps Forces Pacific did not specify how many drones were deployed in the Philippines.
Last month, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro announced Task Force Philippines.
According to Hegseth, the 60-person coordination unit headed by a one-star officer was designed to enhance bilateral defense cooperation and deter Chinese coercion.
