The Philippine Marine Corps is now operating Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC) T38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessels through Washington’s latest transfer of drone systems to the Southeast Asian nation.
Two of the American drone firm’s USVs were transferred to the Philippine Marine Corps last Wednesday. The ceremony at Subic Bay was the third U.S. USV handover to the Armed Forces of the Philippines since 2024. The Philippine Navy’s Unmanned Surface Vessel One Unit already operates one T38 Devil Ray, four MANTIS T12 and four Triton Autonomous USVs.
This pair of T38 Devil Rays will be operated by the Philippine Marine Corps, although it is unclear what formation or if a new unit will use the drones.
“For the Philippine Marines Corps, however, receiving these vessels is only the beginning. Receiving a capability is one thing, developing it, sustaining it, and making it operationally effective is another,” remarked PMC Deputy Commandant Brig. Gen. Bayani Curaming at the ceremony.
In recent years, Manila’s Marines have adjusted their posture to counter adversaries in the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait. This new maritime domain awareness mission includes the creation of new small boat units, sensing teams and formation relocations to strategic First Island Chain chokepoints. According to a USNI News report in June, Philippine Marines were confirmed to be the recipients of American-made drones.
Philippine Devil Ray Reach
The force’s MARTAC T38 Devil Rays bring a new rapidly deployable capability for the Philippine Marines. According to the company’s releases, these drones can sail out to 2,400 nautical miles, which may translate to an operational radius of 1,200 nautical miles. From its mission bay, the Devil Ray can support various ISR, strike and electronic warfare missions. The drone can also carry and deploy smaller MANTIS T12 USV.
This Naval News graphic shows the potential reach of the Philippine T38 Devil Ray USVs from major Armed Forces of the Philippines installations facing the SCS and Luzon Strait. During Naval News’ 2024 tour of Naval Operating Base Subic, it was observed that these drones were deployed via trailer. Any facility with a boat launch can sortie the vessels.
For Manila, the MARTAC drones are one of several components in the joint Asymmetric Capabilities Program with the U.S. Through foreign military sales and grant aid programs, Washington is set to transfer a variety of unmanned surveillance and strike platforms to its oldest treaty ally in the Indo-Pacific.
