Leonardo reaffirms support for AFP modernization

Italian multinational aerospace, defense, and security firm Leonardo has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing national security, operational readiness, and local capability development of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The commitment comes amid the Philippines’ renewed push for rapid technological adaptation, specialized expertise, and stronger interoperability to support a credible defense posture.

Leonardo said it is ready to support the country’s capability development and long-term modernization goals by helping the Philippine government invest in technologies, skills, and systems that will enable a more resilient and future-ready AFP.

“Leonardo, as part of Eurofighter Consortium, stands ready to support the Philippines as it moves toward a more capable, self-reliant, and unmatched deterrence posture,” Tommaso Pani, senior vice president for marketing and sales of Leonardo’s aeronautics division, said in a statement. “Our approach is anchored on long-term partnership built not only on trusted performance, but also on meaningful investments in local capability, skills development, and national growth.”

For decades, Leonardo has supported the Philippines’ defense and security requirements across air, land, sea, and cyber domains.

Its long-standing collaboration with the Department of National Defense reflects the company’s commitment to enhancing national security and supporting the country’s evolving operational needs.

This established partnership also underpins Leonardo’s proposal for the Philippine Air Force’s multirole fighter acquisition program, which aims to strengthen air superiority, improve multi-domain awareness, and enhance future force readiness.

Leonardo’s global reputation is built on technological innovation, mission reliability, and multi-domain expertise. The Eurofighter Typhoon program, developed with European defense partners Airbus Germany, Airbus Spain, and BAE Systems, reflects this standard through its combat-proven performance, interoperability, and resilience.

DOST-developed defense system

In a separate development aimed at boosting the country’s defense capability, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has turned over its locally developed COBRA automated weapon system to the Department of National Defense, marking a significant step toward a more capable and self-reliant military.

Civic leader Jose Antonio Goitia hailed the development, saying it reflects a broader shift in governance that values innovation, institutional cooperation, and national readiness.

He also emphasized that the milestone was made possible by the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose focus on modernization and technological self-reliance continues to shape the country’s defense direction.

“The strength of a nation does not rest on what it buys, but on what it builds. Capability is sovereignty,” he said.

Developed by the DOST–Metals Industry Research and Development Center, the COBRA system can mount .50-caliber weapons on various platforms, providing the Philippine Army with greater flexibility and operational reach.

For Goitia, the development goes beyond a technological milestone and serves as proof that Filipino science can directly reinforce national security, strengthened further by coordinated efforts among the DND, the AFP, and the DOST.

He noted that the country’s long-standing reliance on foreign defense equipment has limited its ability to respond swiftly to evolving security challenges, adding that COBRA signals a deliberate move to change that.

Goitia credited the Marcos administration for fostering an environment that encourages innovation and empowers institutions to develop solutions that advance national interests.

“Innovation becomes meaningful when it strengthens the nation’s ability to defend its people. Technology must serve a clear purpose, and this system does.”

“When agencies collaborate, the public sees a government capable of solving real problems. Cooperation is not merely administrative. It is leadership in action,” he said.