‘Eyes in the Sky’

WASHINGTON HAS delivered to the Philippines four ScanEagle unmanned aerial system worth $4 million with officials saying these platforms will provide additional capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and in support of counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana gestures while U.S. Embassy Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava looks on during the turnover of four ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles to the Philippines on October 13, 2021.

The Philippines is by far the largest recipient of U.S. military assistance in the Indo-Pacific region.  Since 2015, the United States has delivered more than $1.06 billion worth of planes, ships, armored vehicles, small arms, and other military equipment to the Philippines, while training side-by-side with Filipinos.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava and the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino and representatives from the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines’ Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group turned over the four ScanEagle long-endurance unmanned aerial system to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City in Pampanga province on October 13.

“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 told the Filipino officials.

The ScanEagle has the ability to launch without a runway and can operate at 19,000 feet for 24 hours. The unmanned aerial system delivers persistent imagery on land or at sea for a variety of commercial and defense missions. (Mindanao Examiner)