MANILA, June 23 (Reuters): The U.S. government has given four Ocean Aero Triton autonomous underwater and surface vehicles to the Philippine military to boost Manila's ability to monitor its ‌waters and spot potential threats, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines said on Tuesday.

The Philippines is taking delivery of the solar-powered sea drones, which can operate for up to 30 days without crews, as ties between the Philippines and China have been tested by Beijing's ⁠installation of a floating structure in Scarborough Shoal and the imposition of sanctions by China on Manila’s Defense Secretary.

The embassy said the drones, valued at $13 million, demonstrated Washington's commitment to its ally and would enhance the Philippines' ability to detect and respond to maritime challenges, including illegal fishing, gray-zone activities, and threats to freedom of navigation.

“The Indo-Pacific’s waters are vast and contested, and the Philippines sits at the heart of it," the embassy said in ‌a ⁠statement.

In mid-June, U.S. and Philippine forces held joint maritime drills in the South China Sea, involving air and coast guard assets in a series of interoperability exercises.

Photo from SCMP