Aaron-Matthew Lariosa – October 28, 2026 3:58 PM – Updated: October 29, 2026 6:07 AM
MANILA, Philippines — A U.S. Marine Corps drone detachment is operating from a Philippine airfield in Palawan near South China Sea flashpoints in the Spratly Islands, USNI News has learned.
From the airfield, Washington can potentially support Manila with more intensive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions of Chinese forces operating off the Philippines.
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) is operating out of Antonio Bautista Air Base, according to a logistics document reviewed by USNI News. An expeditionary hangar recently appeared on commercial open source satellite imagery posted on Apple Maps. The hangar is the same make of one currently in use by VMU-1 at Basa Air Base in Luzon.
Located at Palawan’s provincial capital of Puerto Princesa, the unit’s MQ-9A Reapers can sortie for missions over maritime features more than 300 miles away. The drones’ onboard sensors can also monitor China’s expansive military deployments off the Philippines, which includes several artificial island bases. The drones are further evidence of Washington’s tactical presence during incidents between Chinese and Philippine forces.
“Flying from Puerto Princesa rather than Basa Air Base on Luzon cuts a Reaper’s transit to Second Thomas Shoal from more than 400 nautical miles to under 200. That’s nearly three extra hours over the target on every sortie,” Ben Lewis, founder of PLA Tracker, an organization dedicated to monitoring Chinese military activity and development, told USNI News.
The Philippine Air Force base is one of nine designated under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement for Washington to stage equipment and deploy troops on a rotational basis.
VMU-1’s Palawan detachment is also adjacent to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command headquarters. This command directly oversees Philippine operations in the contested Spratly Islands, including resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Second Thomas Shoal.
The detachment can support MQ-9As for South China Sea sorties from an additional site outside of Luzon, which is prone to weather disruptions via typhoons, according to Lewis.
“Incidents can escalate within hours, so a persistent picture of what is moving and where gives Manila and Washington earlier warning and a firmer evidential basis for responding,” said Lewis.
The detachment at Puerto Princesa expands American drone deployments across the Philippines. VMU-1’s drones began deploying to the Philippines in 2024 following a request from Manila to assist its South China Sea intelligence gathering efforts.
Army drones have been deployed for over a decade on the southern island of Mindanao for counter-insurgency support. However, these drones have also been seen shadowing maritime incidents at contested maritime features.
The Marine Corps acknowledged but did not return requests for information on the VMU-1 detachment at Puerto Princesa. In September, USNI News inquired about the reason for the deployment to Palawan and the beginning of its mission at Antonio Bautista.
The VMU-1 deployment coincides with an increased tempo of American defense drills and investments across the Southeast Asian archipelago.
Washington’s efforts in expanding military infrastructure and rotational deployments to Manila are occurring as China consolidates its South China Sea claims. Military construction efforts at EDCA sites are increasing the capacity for rotational forces and forward-deployed equipment. A non-stop season of Spring and early Summer exercises effectively deploys thousands of U.S. troops to the Philippines annually.
Tensions between Beijing and Manila have spiraled in recent years, at times resulting in incidents involving rammings, water cannons and clashes at various shoals.
“With Coast Guard cutters rotating through Subic in September and now Marines positioning in Palawan, Washington is sending a signal that we stand with the Philippines in the South China Sea,” Ryan Claffey, a Research Assistant with the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, told USNI News.
According to Claffey, the specifics of these deployments may be kept quiet to prevent tensions ahead of international engagements with China, such as APEC and the G20. Going forward, Claffey said he expects more U.S. intelligence sharing, joint patrols and long-range missile deployments to the Philippines.
Aaron-Matthew Lariosa
Aaron-Matthew Lariosa is a freelance defense journalist. His coverage focuses on Philippine defense modernization, the South China Sea and U.S. efforts in the first island chain.
Follow @AaronMatthewI_L
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