TANAY, Rizal — Recognizing that modern warfare is rapidly being reshaped by unmanned systems, the Philippine Army is stepping deeper into drone warfare training to ensure its forces do not fall behind. The Army’s 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division successfully hosted the landmark Drone Racing Fellowship 2026 to hone the technical capabilities of its elite personnel.
The specialized event was held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, gathering regular forces and tech-forward reservists.
The fellowship was designed to simulate the high-pressure environments of modern tactical reconnaissance and precision operations. Prior to the main event, participants underwent strict track walkthroughs, practice flights, and rigorous qualifying rounds.
The competitive courses specifically tested:
- Precision and Agility: Maneuvering aircraft through highly challenging, multi-tiered aerial obstacle courses.
- Split-Second Control: Enhancing hand-eye coordination under pressure, mimicking the sudden tactical adjustments needed during live missions.
- Focus under Stress: Maintaining spatial awareness using advanced First-Person View (FPV) drone configurations.
The drone racing event functioned as a unified platform for knowledge sharing and technical skill development across the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) most specialized branches:
- The Combat Units: Personnel from the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID), the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR), and the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) (SFRA).
- The Counter-Terrorism Experts: High-tier operators from the Light Reaction Regiment (LRR) and specialized Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units.
- The Civil-Military Backbone: Active participants from the Reserve Command, Philippine Army (RCPA), who continue to play an outsized role in the military’s technological integration.
The global security landscape—deeply influenced by drone utilization strategies witnessed in Ukraine and the Middle East—has shown how low-cost, commercial-grade quadcopters can completely dismantle traditional battlefield doctrines.
This fellowship follows a string of international successes for the local military, including an impressive 11th-place finish out of 76 global competitors by Filipino army reservist Pfc. Rex Froilan Gil at the Australian Army’s 6th Military International Drone Racing Tournament in March 2026.
2ID Commander Major General Ramon Zagala, who pioneered early FPV training programs during his time heading the Reserve Command, issued a stark warning to the troops regarding the absolute necessity of integrating unmanned aerial systems (UAS):
“Tomorrow’s operations will demand not only courage in the field, but also adaptability in technology. We must continue learning, evolving, and preparing our personnel for the changing operational environment. If we will not adapt, we will fail. Drone technology is already here. Future wars will be fought with it, and our ability to harness it will provide a differentiation.” — Major General Ramon Zagala