Philippines Develops Armed Combat Drones

The Philippine Air Force Research and Development Center (AFRDC) has unveiled its first homegrown armed drones, marking a milestone in the country’s Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program.

The newly revealed platforms — the Air Military Ordnance Carrier (AMOC) and the Military Air Ordnance Yielder (MAOY) — are locally developed and combat-ready, offering new capabilities to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The AMOC is a fixed-wing drone designed for reconnaissance and precision strike roles, while the MAOY is a rotary-wing system built for direct ordnance delivery using first-person view (FPV) control. Both drones are capable of carrying explosive payloads and were developed entirely by Filipino engineers and technicians.

The AMOC is the first locally made and first AFP fixed-wing armed drone for use in combat, while the MAOY is the first locally made and first AFP rotary-wing armed drone for use in combat.

These capabilities are aimed at supporting internal security operations and providing cost-effective alternatives to imported drone systems.

The MAOY quadcopter, shown in recent footage, can carry and release small aerial bombs. The ordnance is visibly mounted beneath the airframe. Designed for frontline deployment, this FPV drone gives operators real-time visual control and targeting accuracy.

Meanwhile, the AMOC fixed-wing UAV demonstrated its flight capabilities in a recent test, showcasing its ability to perform longer-range missions with higher endurance.

The locally developed drones are intended to enhance the AFP’s operational flexibility, particularly in counter-insurgency and border security operations. Their development comes at a time of growing focus on drone warfare and unmanned systems integration within Southeast Asia.