Why the Philippine Army is turning to locally built remote weapons systems

The Philippine Army has rolled out a locally developed remote weapons system that officials said would boost troop protection while advancing Manila’s push to build a self-reliant defence industry amid limited manpower and resources.

The Controller Operated Battle-Ready Armament (Cobra) was formally turned over to the Department of National Defence on Thursday at the Army Armour Division headquarters in Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, following two years of development led by the Department of Science and Technology.

Designed and built by the department’s Metals Industry Research and Development Centre, Cobra allows soldiers to engage targets remotely from inside an armoured vehicle, reducing exposure to enemy fire and improving survivability, according to defence officials.

The system could help strengthen lower-end capabilities at a time when the armed forces are rebalancing towards external defence while facing manpower and budget constraints, observers say.

Cobra enhanced “soldier survivability by allowing operation of the weapon system from the safety of the vehicle’s interior, protecting personnel from direct fire”, said Chester Cabalza, founder and president of Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation.

The fully Filipino-designed, engineered and tested product will significantly change specific missions by enhancing force protection and precision, according to Cabalza. “Its success, however, is contingent on overcoming limitations in technology, sustainment and the capacity for mass production.”