Nakatanggap ang Philippine Navy ng kauna-unahang advanced fixed-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) na ScanEagle UAS mula sa Estados Unidos.
Nai-turnover ni Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Kelly at ilang opisyal ng Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) sa Philippine Navy ang unmanned aerial system na nagkakahalaga ng $14.79 million o katumbas ng P710 milyon.
Makatutulong ito upang mapalakas ang maritime domain awareness at border security capabilities ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Ayon sa U.S. Embassy sa Pilipinas, magbibigay ang ScanEagle UAS ng intelligence, surveillance, at reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities sa AFP 71st Maritime Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron (71 MUARS) ng Naval Air Wing – Philippine Fleet, na nag-ooperate ng aircraft sa Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui sa San Antonio, Zambales.
Ang 71 MUARS ang itinuturing na leading unit para sa unmanned maritime ISR operations ng AFP.
“Transferring the ScanEagle system for operation by the Maritime Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron represents the steadfast commitment by the United States to our partners in the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” pahayag ni Kelly.
“This new asset will complement the same kind being operated by the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing at the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, which is very close to the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea that need our consistent attention,” ayon kay AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Erick Kagaoan.
Sinabi naman ni Philippine Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Loumer Bernabe na makatutulong din ang ScanEagle UAS sa pagsasagawa ng assessment sa mga lugar, territorial defense, internal security operations, at humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
