기타 USV를 도입해 중국의 움직임을 감시할 필리핀 해군

[위종민]

필리핀 해군이 미국으로부터 트리톤 USV 4척을 지원받아 중국의 움직임을 감시하는데 쓸 예정이네요. 

필리핀, 서부 해역에 미국산 Triton 해군 드론 배치…침입 세력 감시 강화

Leilani Chavez

2026년 6월 25일

Ocean Aero의 Triton 해군 드론은 수상과 수중에서 모두 운용할 수 있다. (Ocean Aero)

필리핀 마닐라 — 필리핀 해군은 서필리핀해(West Philippine Sea) 분쟁 해역에서 해저 케이블을 보호하고 중국 선박 및 해상민병대의 침입을 감시하기 위한 지속적인 노력의 일환으로 Triton 자율형 수중·수상 드론 4대를 배치할 예정이다.

주필리핀 미국대사관은 이번 주 미국 기업 Ocean Aero가 제작한 총 7억5,400만 페소(1,300만 달러) 상당의 자율형 수중·수상 무인정(AUSV)을 필리핀 해군에 인도했다고 발표했다. 대사관은 이 장비가 "해양 안보 위협과 불법 해양 활동을 탐지하고 대응하는 능력을 강화할 것"이라고 밝혔다.

이번 인도는 필리핀군이 중국이 지난 5월 말 필리핀 배타적경제수역(EEZ)에 위치한 어장인 스카버러 암초 남동부 해역에 안테나를 장착한 6×6m 규모의 부유식 구조물을 은밀히 설치했다고 공개한 이후 이루어졌다.

필리핀 정부는 이 구조물이 필리핀의 해양 정보를 불법적으로 수집하는 데 사용됐으며, 향후 중국의 인공섬 건설 활동을 위한 사전 단계일 가능성이 있다고 주장했다. 필리핀은 이에 대해 외교적 항의를 제기했으며, 중국은 지난주 해당 구조물을 철거했다.

필리핀 해안경비대에 따르면 중국이 설치한 것으로 추정되는 안테나 구조물이 2026년 6월 15일 남중국해 스카버러 암초에서 필리핀 수산자원국(BFAR) 항공기에서 촬영되고 있다. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

태양광으로 구동되는 Triton은 수상과 수중에서 모두 자율 항해가 가능하며, 정보·감시·정찰(ISR), 대잠전, 해상 타격, 기뢰 대응 작전 등 다양한 임무를 수행할 수 있다.

이 드론은 영상카메라, 열영상 장비, 소나를 탑재할 수 있으며, 육상, 함정 또는 항공기에서 운용할 수 있다. 최대 100m 깊이까지 잠수할 수 있으며, 수중에서는 최대 10일간, 수상에서는 최대 30일간 작전을 수행할 수 있다.

미국 미시시피주 걸프포트에 위치한 Ocean Aero 본사에서는 AUSV를 해저 케이블 파괴 행위로부터 보호하는 임무에 운용하고 있으며, 미국 해군의 호르무즈 해협 기뢰 제거 임무에도 이 장비를 제안한 바 있다.

관계자들은 Defense News에 이번 AUSV가 최근 실시된 발리카탄(Balikatan) 연합훈련에서 필리핀 해군에 처음 공개됐으며, 미국이 필리핀의 군사력을 강화하기 위해 이전할 예정인 여러 체계와 플랫폼 가운데 하나라고 밝혔다.

관계자들은 Triton이 현재 진행 중인 해저 케이블과 가스관 감시 활동도 강화할 것이라고 말했다.

주필리핀 미국대사관의 브리짓 워커 대사대리는 성명을 통해 "불법 조업, 회색지대 활동, 항행의 자유를 위협하는 행위 등 해양 안보 위협을 감시하고 대응하기 위해서는 어느 한 척의 함정이나 한 대의 항공기로는 제공할 수 없는 지속적이고 장시간의 상황 인식 능력이 필요합니다. Triton은 이러한 공백을 메우며 필리핀 해군의 능력을 핵심 해역까지 확장해 줄 것입니다."라고 밝혔다.

이 드론은 필리핀과 미국 간 안보 분야 지원 로드맵(Security Sector Assistance Roadmap)에 포함된 장비다. 이 다년간의 협정은 레이더와 무인체계 같은 장비의 획득, 이전 및 공동 활용을 촉진해 해양 감시 능력을 강화하는 것을 목표로 한다.

미국 상원은 지난해 12월 2026년부터 2030년까지 집행될 필리핀 군 현대화 예산으로 25억 달러를 배정했다.

Leilani Chavez 소개

Leilani Chavez는 *Defense News*의 아시아 특파원이다. 그녀는 동아시아 정치, 개발 사업, 환경 문제, 안보 분야를 전문적으로 취재하고 있다.

Philippines deploys US-made Triton naval drones in its western waters to scout for intruders

Philippines deploys US-made Triton naval drones in its western waters to scout for intruders

Philippines deploys US-made Triton naval drones in its western waters to scout for intruders

By Leilani Chavez

 Thursday, Jun 25, 2026

Ocean Aero's Triton naval drone can operate on the surface and underwater. (Ocean Aero)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy is set to deploy four Triton autonomous underwater and surface drones as part of ongoing efforts to protect subsea cables and monitor incursions by Chinese vessels and maritime militia in disputed features within the West Philippine Sea.

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announced this week the transfer of the AUSVs worth 754 million pesos ($13 million) and produced by American firm Ocean Aero to the sea forces to enhance capabilities “to detect and respond to maritime challenges and illegal maritime activities.”

The transfer comes after the Armed Forces of the Philippines revealed that China discreetly deployed a 6x6 meter floating platform equipped with an antenna in late May at the southeastern portion of Scarborough Shoal, a fishing lagoon within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Philippine officials claim the platform was being used to illegally gather Philippine maritime data and could serve as a prelude for China’s island-building activities. Philippine officials lodged diplomatic protests, and China removed the structure last week.

An antenna structure, which the Philippine Coast Guard says was placed there by China, is seen from aboard a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane on June 15, 2026, in Scarborough Shoal, South China Sea. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Solar-powered Tritons are capable of autonomous navigation both on the surface and underwater and can support a diverse array of missions such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike, and mine countermeasures.

The drones can be fitted with video cameras, thermal imaging and sonars, and may be deployed from shore, vessels, or aircraft. It can dive down to 100 meters and remain underwater for 10 days. It can also conduct surface patrols for up to 30 days.

In Ocean Aero’s headquarters in Gulfport, Mississippi, the AUSVs are mobilized to protect subsea cables from sabotage, and the company has pitched the AUSVs for U.S. Navy mine-clearing in the Strait of Hormuz.

Officials told Defense News the AUSVs were shown to the Navy during the recent iteration of Exercise Balikatan and are among a series of systems and platforms the U.S. had planned to transfer to the Philippines to boost military capabilities.

The Tritons will also boost existing efforts to monitor subsea cables and gas pipelines, officials said.

“The ability to monitor and respond to maritime challenges — illegal fishing, gray zone activities, and threats to freedom of navigation — requires persistent, long-endurance awareness that no single ship or aircraft can provide alone. The Triton fills that gap by expanding the capabilities of the Philippine Navy into critical waterways,” U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bridgette Walker said in a statement.

The drones are included in the Philippines-U.S. Security Sector Assistance Roadmap, a multi-year agreement to ease the acquisition, transfer, and sharing of equipment like radars and unmanned systems to strengthen maritime surveillance.

Last December, the U.S. Senate earmarked $2.5 billion for Philippine military modernization to be disbursed from 2026 to 2030.

About Leilani Chavez

Leilani Chavez is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. Her reporting expertise is in East Asian politics, development projects, environmental issues and security.

[김유철]

미국입장에서는 우크라이나 전장에서 각종 드론을 시험하고, 필리핀에서는 원양에서의 운용을 집중 시험하고... 본토에서는 CCA 실험하고... 여러모로 바쁘네요.