The US Department of Defense has taken significant steps to enhance the capabilities of the Philippine Navy with a new contract awarded to Ace Builders, a firm based in New Mexico. This $975,000 project is aimed at upgrading the Philippine Navy’s primary base near the South China Sea by constructing a maintenance facility specifically designed for small boats and unmanned surface vessels (USVs).
The facility will be located at Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Western Palawan, which hosts a fleet of US-provided Cyclone-class patrol ships and fast attack craft, as well as the Maritime Tactical Systems Devil Ray T-38 USVs recently delivered to the Philippines. According to reports, the structure will be equipped with necessary air conditioning and electrical systems to support various vessels, including 11.6-meter (38-foot) unmanned surface vessels.
Last year, the Philippines received one Devil Ray T-38 along with four Mantas T-12 USVs as part of the US maritime domain awareness initiative. This upgrade at Oyster Bay is particularly strategic, as it is the closest naval support point to the Spratly Islands, allowing for improved transport of supplies and personnel to the Philippines’ scattered outposts in the contested waters of the South China Sea. The facility is poised to enhance the Philippines’ monitoring capabilities of Chinese forces in the region, particularly in contrast to the more developed ports located on the eastern side of Palawan.
In addition to the upgrades at Oyster Bay, plans are underway for a second repair facility in southern Palawan, situated in the municipality of Quezon. This additional facility will be located approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) east of the Second Thomas Shoal, which has recently witnessed several confrontations between Chinese and Filipino forces. This new facility is expected to accommodate and support a minimum of five vessels, including rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) and assault boats, with projections for it to be operational by the first quarter of fiscal 2026. This timeline aligns with the anticipated arrival and initial deployment of the RHIBs and assault boats.
This expansion of naval capabilities and infrastructure comes as part of Washington’s intensified defense and security support to the Philippines throughout 2023, particularly in light of rising tensions and emerging flashpoints at Second Thomas Shoal.
