Philippines Pushes Drone Modernisation Amid South China Sea Tensions

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told lawmakers that the Philippines is moving its security focus from internal threats to external defence as confrontations with Beijing over disputed features inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone have become more frequent. Expanding unmanned-aerial-vehicle (UAV) capabilities is a central element of that shift, intended to enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) across the South China Sea.

The Straits TimesSouth China Morning PostThe Jerusalem Post

At a lower-house budget hearing, Teodoro pitched a 6.3 % increase in the defence ministry’s budget for 2027, raising the spending plan from 305.5 billion pesos (approximately US$4.95 billion). Within the modernisation programme, a 50 billion-peso allocation is earmarked for drone development and acquisition—25 % higher than the current year’s budget. The proposal also includes procurement of additional guided-missile corvettes and other major defence assets to strengthen external defence capabilities.

South China Morning Post

The United States has supplied the Philippine military with four solar-powered sea drones to boost maritime surveillance. In June, Yuliia Fediv, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Philippines, told Reuters that Kyiv is discussing drone-technology cooperation with Manila, indicating broader interest from allied nations in the Philippines’ UAV expansion.

The Straits Times

Teodoro emphasized that the priority is not merely acquiring more UAVs but developing the systems, connectivity and operational know-how needed to employ them effectively. Details of the specific platforms remain classified.

The Straits Times

“As we mature on the cycle, then we can acquire more,” — Gilberto Teodoro, defense secretary — Gilberto Teodoro, defence secretary

The Straits Times