The United States has provided four drones worth P20 million to the Philippine Air Force to boost the country’s capabilities in surveillance as well as in disaster relief missions.
The four ScanEagle unmanned aerial systems (UAS) equipment were turned over at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava of the US Embassy in Manila said that equipment will provide additional capabilities in unmanned intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and support counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.
“We remain committed to our promises on helping modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and we hope this will further strengthen our combined capabilities in working together towards a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Variava said.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. said the annual “Balikatan” exercises between the Philippines and the United States will go full scale next year.
“We have lined up a number of activities that will further strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two militaries and we will go full scale ‘Balikatan’ next year,” Faustino said after the 2021 Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board meeting yesterday.
Due to the pandemic, the “Balikatan” exercises were canceled in 2020.
This year, the number of activities and participants was scaled down in compliance with health and safety protocols.
US Indo-Pacific Command head Adm. John Aquilino, who attended the MDB-SEB, said the alliance between the two countries continues to grow stronger.
“We value the capabilities, capacity, and expertise that our Philippine counterparts bring that is strengthened by our increased operations and exercises together. I believe we will look to renew and get back to a full scale event and we will both look for opportunities to increase the complexity and the scope all the way to look toward new partners participating in the future,” Aquilino said.
“For more than 100 years, the people of our two countries have shared a deep friendship. This friendship is based on values, to include upholding freedom for all people. The sanctity of freedom was the foundation of our alliance and it is still applicable today,” he added.
