Philippines plans to expand military drone development and acquisition

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told lawmakers that the Philippines plans to expand unmanned capabilities through development and procurement while strengthening integration, secure communications and operational expertise. Specific systems were not disclosed.

Why it matters: The emphasis on networks and integration recognises that a drone fleet is only as useful as its command, communications, training and governance.

Business/technical/strategic impact: This is an official budget-hearing statement independently reported by a report and ABS-CBN. Budget approval, systems, AI capabilities and deployment outcomes remain uncertain; no tactical detail is included.