AFP gears up for space center, space command to boost capabilities

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine military is planning to establish a space center that could eventually evolve into a space command or even a space force as it prepares to acquire its own military satellites, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Tuesday. Brawner said the armed forces must build the organization before the satellites are acquired rather than wait until the capability is in place. “We are now planning to create our space center, which will eventually evolve into a space force or a space command,” Brawner said in an interview after the AFP Command Conference for the first semester of the year in Camp Aguinado, Quezon City. He said some have questioned the need for such a unit because the Philippines does not yet have military satellites. “If we wait for the time that we actually acquire our satellites, it will be too late if that’s the only time that we create a unit,” he said. Brawner said the AFP aims to acquire its first military satellites by 2028. “The President approved funding for that,” he said. “In fact, the President decided this at the December Command Conference. During the year-end 2025 Command Conference, he said, ‘Why don’t you have your own satellites?’ So from that guidance, we started planning.” Brawner said the AFP presented the plan to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the conference and that the project is already underway. The Philippine Space Agency will partner with the AFP on the initiative. Brawner said the military is likely to begin with low-Earth orbit satellites, which would complement existing government space assets. Initially, the planned space center will operate as a small unit before expanding into a larger command. Tech investments Brawner said space capabilities are critical for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, providing an “eye in the sky” to monitor developments on land and at sea. Satellites would also support communications, command-and-control networks, missile systems and drone operations. He said the initiative is part of the AFP’s broader modernization as warfare increasingly relies on drones, missiles, cyber capabilities and space technologies. Brawner also said the AFP has blocked more than 3 million cyberattack attempts since January, underscoring the growing importance of investing in emerging technologies. Proactive He said military leaders must anticipate future threats instead of reacting only after they emerge. “You have to look at the situation and plan for the future. Because if you start acting once the threat is there, it’s too late,” Brawner pointed out./gsg