Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System (MITSS) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy (Marines)
The Philippine Marine Corps, through its parent armed service branch the Philippine Navy has embarked on the acquisition of a new fleet of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) which would allow them to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) as well as provide targeting data for artillery or fire support, all to improve the force's overall firepower capability.
The Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System (MITSS) Acquisition Project was among those proposed for acquisition as part of the Horizon 1 Priority Projects under the Revised AFP Modernization Program approved in 2013.
This resource page will discuss the project's history and provide relevant information
all the way to its induction into service with the Philippine Marine Corps.
Project Summary:
Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System (MITSS) Acquisition Project
Note: Edited as of 14 February 2026.
* End User: Philippine Marine Corps
* Quantity: 6 sets UAVs, Target Acquisition Device Systems, Tectical Sensor Integration Subsystems and ILS
* Modernization Phase: Horizon 1 Priority Projects of RAFPMP
* Project ABC: Php685,230,000.00
* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding
* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund
* SARO Release: TBC
* Winning Proponent: Triton Communications Corporation
* Product for Delivery: MAG Aerospace Super Swiper II unmanned aerial vehicles, associated
* Contract Price: Php638,888,880.00
* Residual Amount: Php38,635,635.45
* First post by MaxDefense: 10 December 2013
* Searching Hashtag: #PNMITSSAcquisition #PMCMITSSAcquisition
* Status: Several tenders have been attempted since 2013, with failures due to different reasons. Final attempt was made in 2016, with the Notice of Award released in favor of Triton Communications Corp. Contract was signed and Notice to Proceed was released on 03 October 2016, with delivery completed as of October 2017, commissioned into the Philippine Marine Corps thereafter. PROJECT COMPLETED.
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| The MAG Super Swiper II UAV readied for launch during Exercise BALIKATAN 2025. Photo credits to DVIDS. |
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Overview:
The introduction and use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in military applications has opened the mindset of military leaders in the Philippines including those from the Philippine Marine Corps to consider having them to aid in improving its situational awareness, rapidly-available and mobile to provide visual and electronic intelligence without relying on manned aircraft or other means.
The PMC as well as the other service branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines started experiments on using small civilian hobby-grade UAVs for reconnaissance, including actually employing UAVs during the Zamboanga Siege in 2013, which gave the AFP an idea on the importance of such asset.
With this, the PMC has given importance on the acquisition of proper unmanned aerial systems, prompting the inclusion of the acquisition of the Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System (MITSS) as part of the Horizon 1 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program approved for implementation in 2013.
The system provides the PMC with an aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset that can be used for both land and maritime applications, and has sufficient range and endurance to allow search and transmission of information to its base station, said to be in excess of 150 kilometers.
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are suppose to be compact enough for rapid mobilisation and movement, without relying on proper airfield for launch as it would be using a rail launching system or catapult for takeoff, and employing a parachute for landing.
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| A MAG Super Swiper II UAV shown here with its parachute deployed as it softly lands on the ground, during Exercise BALIKATAN 2025. The UAV was designed to land in this way. Photo credits to DVIDS. |
Aside from combat use, it can also be used during peacetime emergency for search and rescue operations.
The MITSS will be composed of 6 unmanned aerial systems, each with 4 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ground control station, Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) equipment and communication systems that are interoperable with existing ones.
The project was pursued through Public Bidding with an Approved Budget of Contract (ABC) worth Php68.2 million, with the tender opened as early as 2013, although it took several attempts before a re-tender scheduled on mid-2015 became successful, with a Submission and Opening of Bid Envelopes (SOBE) scheduled on 10 August 2015.
Filipino company Triton Communications Corp. was declared the winning tenderer, with a Notice of Award released to their favor on 14 December 2015, and the Notice to Proceed released on 01 March 2016.
The company utilized the MAG Aerospace Super Swiper II small tactical fixed wing UAV as its flying component, integrating it with communication systems from TrellisWare Technologies, and was able to deliver the entire package to the PMC by October 2017.
Since then, the MITSS have been operational and participated in several military training exercises including Exercise KAMANDAG, as well as for performing maritime patrols in near-coast areas in support of maritime domain awareness, as well as during disaster response operations.
The MITSS will be composed of 6 unmanned aerial systems, each with 4 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ground control station, Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) equipment and communication systems that are interoperable with existing ones.
The project was pursued through Public Bidding with an Approved Budget of Contract (ABC) worth Php68.2 million, with the tender opened as early as 2013, although it took several attempts before a re-tender scheduled on mid-2015 became successful, with a Submission and Opening of Bid Envelopes (SOBE) scheduled on 10 August 2015.
Filipino company Triton Communications Corp. was declared the winning tenderer, with a Notice of Award released to their favor on 14 December 2015, and the Notice to Proceed released on 01 March 2016.
The company utilized the MAG Aerospace Super Swiper II small tactical fixed wing UAV as its flying component, integrating it with communication systems from TrellisWare Technologies, and was able to deliver the entire package to the PMC by October 2017.
Since then, the MITSS have been operational and participated in several military training exercises including Exercise KAMANDAG, as well as for performing maritime patrols in near-coast areas in support of maritime domain awareness, as well as during disaster response operations.
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| Testing of the MITSS after repairs in 2021, showing the MAG Super Swiper II UAV and a command vehicle. Photo credits to Philippine Marine Corps. |
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U P D A T E S:
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23 December 2017
During the celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' founding anniversary, the Philippine Marine Corps displayed their new Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System (MITSS), with the MAG Super Swiper II UAV being the most prominent component of the system.
Photo below shows Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana among those viewing the new UAVs.
Photo credits to RTVM.
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23 May 2018:
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With all systems delivered and commissioned to the Philippine Marine Corps as of 2017, MaxDefense and Philippine Defense Resource can now consider the Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy (Marines) as COMPLETED.
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x x x x x x x x x x x
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First edit and release: 14 February 2026
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource
Our parent page MaxDefense Philippines posted a photo of a MAG Super Swiper II UAV on display as part of the Philippine Marine Corps' new assets as part of the celebration of the Philippine Navy's anniversary.
All systems were delivered and inducted to service in 2017, although the PMC is still using them for training more operators.
Photo credits to a MDP community member.
All systems were delivered and inducted to service in 2017, although the PMC is still using them for training more operators.
Photo credits to a MDP community member.
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With all systems delivered and commissioned to the Philippine Marine Corps as of 2017, MaxDefense and Philippine Defense Resource can now consider the Marine Forces Imagery and Targeting Support System Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy (Marines) as COMPLETED.
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x x x x x x x x x x x
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First edit and release: 14 February 2026
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource
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