DOST, Navy unveil remote-controlled weapon system

Buhawi is a project by the DOST in collaboration with the Philippine Navy and the Robotics Society of the Philippines. (Photo from the DOST)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Navy have jointly developed a remote-controlled weapon system, seen as a step toward the revival of the country’s vision of building its own defense industry.

Called Buhawi (Building a Universal Mount for Heavy-Barrel Automated Weapon Integration), it was unveiled at the recent Navy anniversary to improve the firepower capability of the Navy’s small patrol craft through the design and development of an automated gun mount for a 0.50-caliber machine gun.

Developed by scientists and researchers from the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center, it included the gun mount’s design and fabrication, control system’s design and development, and integration of the mechanical and control systems of the gun mount, the DOST said.

The Mechatronics and Robotics Society of the Philippines also took part in the development of the project, which started in 2019.

“I think it’s about time that we use our own invention and I’m sure we’re not lagging behind in terms of intelligence. But capital is needed. We need private companies to invest so they can produce and we will buy from them,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said after the recent turnover of the Buhawi project to the Philippine Navy.

The development cost of the system was estimated at P14 million, lower compared to imported technologies amounting to P24 million.

Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said the challenge ahead was how to produce the system commercially.

“Even if the costs are low, if there are no companies that will invest, then it will be difficult. Not unless a government unit will invest in it,” he said.

Dela Peña added that the project would not only provide additional savings to the country but also help generate more jobs for the commercialization and eventual export of defense products.

Photo from the DOST

Successful testing

“With this, we will see the crucial roles of the Philippine Navy and private sectors concerned with our marine and seas as all of them will support the drive to make the Philippines a truly developed, strong marine archipelagic nation,” he said also during the Navy anniversary celebration.

Lt. Cmdr. Jimmy Leanan Jr., executive officer of BRP Heracleo Alano or PC 376, said that they conducted a series of sea trials for the Buhawi weapon system in the past two months.

It was tested in both day and night operation, including various sea states up to sea state 3, or when the wave was around one meter high and wind condition was estimated at 10 mph.

“Surprisingly, the Buhawi weapon system is better in terms of accuracy compared to the other or similar weapon system we acquired through our modernization, and I would say that the Buhawi weapon system can be at par once it reaches mature state,” he said.

Dela Peña said the DOST would continue to work with the Armed Forces of the Philippines on other collaborations such as Cobra, or Controller Operated Battle-Ready Armament, which will use robotics and automation technologies,

In 2018, the DOST and the Department of Defense signed a memorandum of agreement to attain a Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP), a part of which is the development of Buhawi.

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