ni Thea Janica Teh | November 26, 2020
Tinatayang nasa P710 milyong halaga ng drone system ang ibinigay ng US Embassy ngayong Miyerkules sa Philippine Navy upang mas mapaigting ang depensa ng maritime at border security capacity nito.
Pinangunahan ni Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Kimberly Kelly at ilang representatives mula sa US Embassy ng Joint US Military Assistance Group ng Pilipinas ang pagbibigay ng ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System kina Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Barcodo, Flag Officer in Command ng Philippine Navy at Naval Base Heracleo Alano na ginanap sa Sangley Point, Cavite.
Ang drone system na ito ay kayang magbigay ng intelligence, surveillance at reconnaissance sa 71st maritime unmanned aerial reconnaissance squadron ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Malugod din itong tinanggap ni AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Erick Kagaoan at sinabing ito ay gagamitin ng militar sa Palawan kung saan malapit sa West Philippine Sea.
Aniya, “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.”
Bukod pa rito, makatutulong din ito sa panahon ng sakuna at humanitarian assistance. Samantala, ibinahagi ni Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na inaasahan din ang pagdating ng military equipment na nagkakahalaga ng P869 milyon mula sa US sa susunod na buwan.