U.S. Special Forces Train with USVs in the Philippines
- May 31, 2025
A photo released by the U.S. Air Force depicted the operation of a Maritime Tactical Systems Devil Ray T-38 unmanned surface vessel at Naval Operating Base Subic. A Naval Special Warfare Combatant Craft Assault towed the drone in front of Quay 7, which at the time hosted an Acero-class patrol gunboat, BRP Gregorio del Pilar-class (PS-15), and BRP Davao del Sur (LD 602).
U.S. special operations forces have been training in the Philippines since early spring, bringing along with them their specialized aviation and fast boats. Their deployments across the country, including to the strategic island chain of Batanes near Taiwan and in the South China Sea, were highlighted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Manila during his first visit to a partner in the Indo-Pacific region in March.
The American defense secretary also highlighted the deployment of drones alongside the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems for Balikatan 2025, a bilateral exercise that focused on the defense of the Philippines and heavily prioritized activities in the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait. A readout of Hegseth’s joint statement in Manila detailed that the training on the unmanned anti-ship launchers and vessels would “increase the interoperability and operational readiness of U.S. and Philippine forces to leverage cutting-edge military capabilities in Indo-Pacific operational environments.”
