Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana inspects on Oct. 13 one of four drones that the US military gave to the Philippine Air Force in Clark Freeport, Pampanga. (Photo courtesy of the US Embassy)
CLARK FREEPORT—Four drones worth P200 million were turned over Wednesday, Oct. 13, by the United States military to the Philippine Air Force in this freeport.
The four units of ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Systems could “provide additional capabilities in unmanned Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and support of counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief efforts,” the US Embassy said in a news release Thursday.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and PAF chief Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes witnessed the turnover led by Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava and Admiral John Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command.
“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 said.
The US Embassy said the Philippines is the “largest recipient of US military assistance in the Indo-Pacific region,” getting more than P50.6 billion ($1.06 billion) of planes, ships, armored vehicles, small arms, and other military equipment to the Philippines since 2015.