The uavs were donated by the us as part
of its indo-pacific maritime security
initiative program aimed at improving
the maritime capabilities of select
countries through u.s government
assistance. The new UAV's were then handed over to
the PN naval air wing 71st maritime
unmanned aerial reconnaissance squadron
which will use the new assets for
maritime surveillance with emphasis on
disputed areas like the philippine
exclusive economic zone in the south
china sea and in shared borders with
indonesia, malaysia and taiwan.
The eight scan eagle two UAVs were
valued at around 14.79 million u.s
dollars which the u.s government says is
part of their commitment to support the
philippine military's modernization
goals and urgent maritime security, counter terrorism and humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief
requirements. The PN's new uavs will complement scan
eagle 2 UAVs of the philippine air force which were also provided by the u.s
government in monitoring disputed areas
that needs consistent attention,
According to armed forces of the
philippines deputy chief of staff vice
admiral Eric Cagoin philippines expected to receive more
excess defense articles from united
states. The united states government has offered
to provide the philippines several new
and excess defense articles as part of a
proposed military aid as negotiations on
the u s philippines visiting forces
agreement VFA continues.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
previously said that u.s government
should pay or provide more military aid
to the philippines for its use of
philippine military facilities. He also compared that the military aid
provided by the us government to other
countries like pakistan, Egypt and Israel
are far higher than what the philippines
receive annually. Philippine ambassador to the u.s jose
manuel romuldes confirmed that the u.s
government has provided a list of
proposed military aid to the philippines
which he believes would be sufficient
enough for president duterte to agree on
keeping the VFA agreement.
According to philippine defense page Max Defense philippines the us has already
several military aid proposed to the
philippine department of defense dnd
many of which were requested by the
armed forces of the philippines since a
few years ago. The philippine army already received an
offer from the u.s for the transfer of
several Sikorsky black hawk combat
utility helicopters and bell AH-1W super
cobra attack helicopters and was
scheduled to inspect them in 2020 in
2021.
Additional helicopters and land vehicles
were also requested from the us. Max Defense philippines also revealed
that the philippine navy also requested
for several ships and aircraft from the
u.s including new Scan Eagle 2 UAVs, surplus beechcraft TC-12 heron twin
engine aircraft and some ships and boats
which the page declined to name. The page also revealed that the us also
offered surplus F-16 fighting falcon
fighter aircraft should the philippine
air force select the lockheed martin F-16 block 70 viper for its multi-role
fighter requirements.
The PAF was also said to have requested
for additional C-130 hercules transport
aircraft on top of ongoing deliveries as
part of an earlier agreement another
fixed wing in rotary aircraft which the
page declined also to identify.
