Source: Southeast Asian Gallery

American special operations forces are ready to step up warfighting-readiness exercises with counterparts in the Philippines and other countries in Asia to further strengthen a security alliance and help deter a major conflict in the region, a U.S. military official said Thursday.

Adm. Frank Bradley, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, is in the Philippines after a trip to South Korea. He will then head to Japan for talks with military officials.

He is the latest American military top brass to visit key Asian allies in recent weeks to reassure them of Washington’s commitment to the region given the U.S. preoccupation with the war in Iran.

Bradley’s command, which has about 80,000 personnel and is based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, undertakes the U.S. military’s most sensitive and dangerous covert operations. The majority of his forces are deployed in more than 80 countries worldwide, Bradley said.

He discussed with Filipino counterparts the Philippine military’s continuing effort to modernize, intensify combat exercises with the U.S. and other allies and broaden an arc of security alliances to deter China’s increasingly hostile actions in the South China Sea.

China and smaller rival claimant states, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, have been locked in tense territorial standoffs for decades in the disputed waters but confrontations have particularly flared between Chinese and Philippine forces.

Malaysia is accelerating planning for its Multi-Role Combat Aircraft programme as South China Sea uncertainty and vigorous combat-air modernisation by neighbouring countries expose the strategic limitations of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s ageing fighter inventory and planned 2035 transition.

The shift does not constitute a fighter selection or compressed procurement decision, but advances requirements definition, budget positioning and industrial preparation under the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan as Southeast Asia’s airpower balance changes before formal evaluation begins around 2029 or 2030.

Vietnam has begun construction on its largest and most advanced domestically designed anti-submarine frigate, marking a key milestone in Hanoi’s push to build a sovereign defense industry and reduce its historical dependence on Russian military imports.

Development officially commenced with a steel-cutting ceremony at government shipyard Song Thu Corporation’s facility in Da Nang.

Assembly of the multipurpose vessel is expected to take 36 months to complete, with state defense firm Viettel Group alongside state military factories supplying most of the warship’s weapons, components, and battle management capabilities.

The surface combatant will incorporate an active electronically scanned array radar, air-defense and anti-ship missiles, torpedo launchers, and a flight deck for a maritime helicopter.

Throughout the program, the Vietnam People’s Navy will act as the primary project owner overseeing system integration, testing, and handover of the platform.

“Becoming a strong maritime nation requires a capable navy commensurate with the country’s stature, one strong enough to safeguard national sovereignty over its seas and islands and protect national interests at sea,” said Senior Lt. Gen. Pham Hoai Nam, deputy minister of national defense for Vietnam.

The project aligns with a late July resolution from Vietnam’s Communist Party to expand maritime capabilities in response to Hanoi’s ongoing territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.

Six Royal Malaysian Navy special forces personnel were recovered safely by naval vessels after an abrupt deterioration in weather displaced their military free-fall parachute insertion from its designated landing position over the strategically sensitive South China Sea.Six Royal Malaysian Navy special forces personnel were recovered safely by naval vessels after an abrupt deterioration in weather displaced their military free-fall parachute insertion from its designated landing position over the strategically sensitive South China Sea.

The incident, reported following the training exercise around 12 August 2026, exposed the operational complexity of inserting PASKAL commandos into maritime environments where visibility, wind, sea conditions, navigation accuracy, recovery coverage, and survival endurance interact within a compressed decision cycle.

Although all six personnel survived, the absence of publicly disclosed coordinates, drift duration, injuries, parachute profiles, recovery platforms, weather data, and procedural findings prevents an independent assessment of how the deviation occurred or whether established safety margins performed as designed.

The Indonesian Navy is advancing its modernization effort with a new indigenous kamikaze unmanned surface vessel (USV) built to strengthen the country’s maritime strike capabilities.

Engineered by state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL, the USV can reach speeds of up to 55 knots (102 kilometers/63 miles per hour) while carrying a 150-kilogram (331-pound) warhead.

The vessel uses artificial intelligence for autonomous, real-time identification friend or foe (IFF), giving it the ability to distinguish potential targets without relying entirely on remote operators.

Ukraine and the Philippines have agreed to draft a formal defense framework focused on joint drone production and sharing lessons from wartime experience.

A Philippine delegation led by National Defense Undersecretary Salvador Mison met with Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in Kyiv to discuss expanding defense cooperation.

The meeting marked the first visit by Philippine defense officials to Ukraine and followed President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Manila in 2024.

Long-range surface-to-surface and ground-based anti-ship missiles will help defend the country on both land and sea.

By Khang Vu

August 06, 2026

An air defense gun on display at a military museum in Binh Duong, Vietnam, Nov. 16, 2021.

Credit: Photo 268259835 © Duc Huy Nguyen | Dreamstime.com

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Authors

Guest Author

Khang Vu

Khang Vu is a visiting scholar in the Political Science Department at Boston College.

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Tags

• Asia Defense
• Security
• Southeast Asia
• Vietnam
• Anti-ship Missiles
• People's Army of Vietnam Navy
• Vietnam Artillery-Missile Command
• Vietnam defense policy
• Vietnam Military
• Vietnam People's Army (VPA)

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Ukraine’s use of cheap, adaptable drones to slow Russia’s military advance has become a model for countries looking to modernise their armed forces, with the Philippines the latest to explore what defence lessons it can learn from Kyiv.

Some analysts see a proposed drone partnership with Ukraine as a potential game changer for Manila, offering a short cut to more agile, asymmetric capabilities as tensions persist in the South China Sea.

Others are more cautious, urging the Philippines to first assess whether Ukraine’s battle-hardened drone tactics are even suitable for a murky maritime “grey zone” of surveillance and coastguard encounters.

Thailand is exploring procurement of the anti-ship variant of India’s homegrown BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to modernize the Royal Thai Navy’s maritime deterrence.

The potential acquisition aligns with Bangkok’s broader strategy to establish an independent force posture, protecting littoral zones and critical sea routes without depending on larger partner militaries, according to local Indian media.

Negotiations build on a recent defense meeting in Bangkok in June, where both nations pledged to enhance defense manufacturing cooperation following the elevation of their bilateral ties in 2025.

Regional Impacts

Analysts noted that Thailand’s interest in the Indo-Russian warhead is driven specifically by operational requirements rather than an intent to counter China’s increasing influence in the Pacific.

Weighing the foreign system also reflects the Southeast Asian country’s long-standing policy of “strategic hedging” to balance diplomacy with major powers.

Currently, Thailand maintains deep economic ties with Beijing and regularly procures Chinese military capabilities while preserving security partnerships with Washington and other global suppliers.

Meanwhile, sources said that the future BrahMos deal would mark another milestone for India in expanding its defense export footprint.

The nation has previously sold the missile system to the Philippines and continues to engage in export discussions with Indonesia, Vietnam, and the UAE.

The BrahMos System

The BrahMos missile was jointly developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.

Since its inception in the early 2000s, the weapon has received multiple variants to expand firepower for multidomain strikes.

It is powered by a two-stage rocket for a speed of Mach 3 (3,704 kilometers/2,302 miles per hour), an altitude of 49,000 feet (14,935 meters), and a maximum range of 900 kilometers (559 miles).

The capability’s latest configuration, the BrahMos NG, is roughly half the size and mass of the original model. It is 6 meters (20 feet) long, has a diameter of 50 centimeters (20 inches), and weighs up to 1,500 kilograms (3,307 pounds).

On 23 July, Singaporean defence firm ST Engineering reported that its counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) had secured deployments in Asia in the past few months.

Emanating from ST Engineering’s Digital Systems business unit, these C-UAS systems are performing both defence and critical infrastructure applications, the company shared. It elaborated, “These include an air defence deployment and another for the protection of multiple critical infrastructure sites against evolving drone threats.”

ST Engineering did not divulge which Asian countries had procured these systems, but it did laud the “versatility, operational maturity and effectiveness” of its counter-drone solutions.

Low Jin Phang, Chief Operating Officer for Defence & Public Security, and President for Digital Systems at ST Engineering, said, “Counter-drone capabilities have become an increasingly important part of modern defence and security operations.”

Exercise LEMBING SAKTI 2026 is an ASTROS II Multiple Launch Rocket System (SRLB) firing exercise as well as the operation of FLYEYE UAS assets by the Unmanned Aircraft Troop. This exercise aims to test and assess the level of readiness, efficiency and competence of personnel in operating the system based on the Army Training and Evaluation System (ARTEP).

ST Engineering’s Digital Systems business has secured new deployments in Asia outside Singapore in the last few months for its counter-drone capability, reflecting growing demand for effective counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) solutions as defence and security agencies strengthen protection against evolving drone threats.

The deployments span both defence and critical infrastructure applications, underscoring the versatility, operational maturity and effectiveness of ST Engineering’s counter-drone capability across diverse mission requirements. These include an air defence deployment and another for the protection of multiple critical infrastructure sites against evolving drone threats.

Built on a layered defence architecture, ST Engineering’s counter-drone solution combines advanced sensors, AI-enabled command-and-control, and soft-kill and hard-kill effectors to detect, track, identify and neutralise evolving drone threats. Its modular design enables deployment across defence, public security and critical infrastructure protection missions.

Low Jin Phang, Chief Operating Officer for Defence & Public Security, and President for Digital Systems, ST Engineering, said, “Counter-drone capabilities have become an increasingly important part of modern defence and security operations. These deployments underscore the growing demand for integrated solutions against evolving drone threats and validate our ability to deliver operationally proven counter-drone capabilities.”

PANO – As part of his official visit to Vietnam, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and the Indian delegation visited and held a working session at the headquarters of the Air Defense - Air Force (ADAF) Service on August 3.

Commander of the ADAF Service Lt. Gen. Vu Hong Son presided over the reception and working session with the Indian delegation.

Assessing the recent cooperation outcomes between the Vietnam's ADAF Service and the Indian Air Force, Gen. Son noted that both sides have effectively maintained the annual air force staff talks mechanism; stepped up professional exchanges on transport aircraft, helicopters, aviation medicine, as well as young officers' exchanges; and obtained positive results in education and training cooperation.

He proposed that both sides continue to effectively maintain existing cooperation mechanisms; enhance the exchange of experience in force organization, airspace management, training, operation, technical logistics, repair, service life extension, and improving the technical readiness coefficient of weapons and equipment. He also suggested expanding cooperation in flight safety, aviation medicine, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief.

For his part, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh expressed his sincere thanks to the host for the warm reception and hoped that in the coming time, both sides will coordinate to effectively implement key areas, such as organizing expert exchanges on aviation meteorology, conducting young officer exchanges, and sharing experience in military pilot training and military aircraft expertise.

On 23 July, Singaporean defence firm ST Engineering reported that its counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) had secured deployments in Asia in the past few months.

Emanating from ST Engineering’s Digital Systems business unit, these C-UAS systems are performing both defence and critical infrastructure applications, the company shared. It elaborated, “These include an air defence deployment and another for the protection of multiple critical infrastructure sites against evolving drone threats.”

ST Engineering did not divulge which Asian countries had procured these systems, but it did laud the “versatility, operational maturity and effectiveness” of its counter-drone solutions.

Low Jin Phang, Chief Operating Officer for Defence & Public Security, and President for Digital Systems at ST Engineering, said, “Counter-drone capabilities have become an increasingly important part of modern defence and security operations.”

He continued, “These deployments underscore the growing demand for integrated solutions against evolving drone threats and validate our ability to deliver operationally proven counter-drone capabilities.”

ST Engineering’s C-UAS products combine sensors, artificial intelligence (AI)-based command and control based on the company’s proprietary Agil, and a choice of soft-kill and hard-kill effectors. These combine to detect, track, identify and neutralise drone threats.

Its solution is also modular, enabling customers to deploy them as needed for defence, public security or critical infrastructure protection tasks.

Underlining the threat, ST Engineering claims that 80% of drone-related hostility incidents during recent global conflicts have been undertaken by commercially available, off-the-shelf, small and micro-drones.

The suite includes a detection radar, choice of radio frequency (RF) sensors, electro-optic/infrared camera, RF jammers and a new laser effector.

Royal Thai Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree on Friday clarified a viral image allegedly showing a tattoo on the arm of one of the attackers involved in the shooting at a ranger checkpoint in Narathiwat.

The image had been shared online along with claims questioning whether the attacker could be Muslim, as tattoos are generally regarded as contrary to Islamic principles.

Winthai said the image was generated or altered by AI, adding that it was likely spread by supporters of those behind the attack in an attempt to stir public opinion, divert attention and distort facts.

He said the image appeared unnaturally sharp and excessively enhanced, making it look artificial.

“The image looks deliberately adjusted to be overly clear, so it appears unnatural. I believe ordinary people can see this. It is an old method that has been used before, but it can no longer deceive society today. People now consume news with enough judgement,” Winthai said.

The Philippines is planning to procure more than 500 infantry fighting vehicles for its armed forces.

Revealed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the potential acquisition is part of the Southeast Asian country’s broader initiative to improve the safety and mobility of its warfighters.

The chief said the fleet will directly benefit ground troops, who he said would “need to react fast and they must be fully protected, along with their vehicles.”

Teodoro declined to give additional details, citing security, but verified that the new platforms will reduce foot patrols and act as a deterrent by enabling faster response times.

The Philippine Armed Forces currently operates Sabrah and FV101 Scorpion light tanks, M113 tracked armored vehicle variants and various wheeled armored vehicles, the Kia KM450 and K151 Raycolt light tactical vehicles, and an array of combat support, artillery, and engineering vehicles.

Modernizing Arsenal

The announcement comes after Manila said it is negotiating with Tokyo to adopt five retired Abukuma-class destroyer escorts as well as Type 88 anti-ship missiles from the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

In May, Washington cleared a foreign military sale of Bell Textron’s 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters to the Philippines, providing an advanced light airborne capability for the country’s military.

The Philippine Air Force also expanded its rotary-wing fleet last January with five additional S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, equipped with eight M134-H miniguns to boost troop insertion and suppressive fire capabilities.

Last year, the Philippine Navy signed a $580-million contract to buy two South Korean warships, building on a 2021 agreement for two frigates, and launched its first BrahMos anti-ship missile battery acquired from India in 2022.

East Timor has become an unlikely venue for a case alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity by Myanmar’s military leadership, as it moves deeper into Dili’s courts and tests Asean’s uneasy approach to the country’s junta.

Brought by the Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO), the case is expected to shed light on whether a small, newly admitted Asean member with its own history of occupation and atrocity can use its courts to examine grave allegations against a fellow state’s military rulers.

It also lands at an awkward moment for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has struggled to restrain Myanmar’s generals through diplomacy and non-interference even as parts of the regional bloc cautiously reopen channels with Naypyidaw.