Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

DOST-developed COBRA weapon system turned over to DND

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) turned over on Thursday the Controller Operated Battle Ready Armament (COBRA) to the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Army (PA) in a ceremony held at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.</p><p>The COBRA prototype was developed under a two-year project funded by the DOST and the DND, with the DOST allocating P24 million and the DND allocating P5 million, bringing the total development cost to P29 million.</p><p>Designed and engineered by the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), COBRA is a remote-controlled weapon station designed to improve the firepower capability of the Army’s armored vehicles through the integration of a .50-caliber remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS).</p><div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/22/ph-eyeing-more-south-korea-made-military-equipment-envoy-says-1829">PH eyeing more South Korea-made military equipment, envoy says</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;AUTOMATED, SAFER, MAINTAINABLE&#x27;</strong></div><p>DOST-MIRDC Prototyping Division Chief and Project Leader Engineer Rodnel Tamayo highlighted that the automated system was designed to protect soldiers who traditionally operated gun mounts while exposed to enemy fire.</p><p>“With the manual, it’s very dangerous for soldiers. They are exposed to enemy fire. All the operations in manning the gun, firing the gun will be done inside the APC (armored personnel carrier). This is automated na,” Tamayo told reporters in an interview.</p><p>“It’s fairly cheaper pa rin when we started our R&amp;D (research and development) on this remote controlled system,” he added.</p><p>Because most components are locally sourced, Tamayo said the Army will benefit from faster repair turnaround times.</p><p>“Once na nagmature na ito—natest naman na at successful ang testing, accurate, precise and sustained ang parts dito, most are locally available—soldiers can also maintain it. Mas mabilis ang pagrepair kasi sinigurado naman natin na locally available ang materials,” he explained.</p><p>COBRA has undergone extensive testing under various conditions, according to Tamayo.</p><p>“The COBRA prototype was tested under several conditions, kahit naka-tilt, pwedeng gumalaw ang target mo at a 360-degree direction. The tracking is superb—at a rate of 30 kilometers per hour, hindi siya bibitaw,” he said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>JOB CREATION AND STRENGTHENED LAND DEFENSE</strong></div><p>Philippine Army Commanding General Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete underscored that COBRA directly supports the Army’s land-centric defense as part of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).</p><p>“Sa ating CADC, of course, the Army will be fighting on land—our land defense concept. Alam natin na at the end, the land battle will be fought. We are really strengthening our capabilities on how to defend our land,” Nafarrete said.</p><p>He went on, “The Armor Division, malaking bagay ito sa ating external defense, that’s why we are developing systems and capabilities at the concept that the battle will be fought on land.”</p><p>Nafarrete emphasized the economic benefits of producing defense technologies locally.</p><p>He added that eventually, Philippine manufacturers can compete internationally.</p><p>“Malaking tulong ito sa ating ekonomiya—the labor, mabibigyan natin ng trabaho ang ating skilled workers dito. That’s one advantage when it’s a locally manufactured system,” Nafarrete told reporters.</p><p>“Later on, we can compete also. The local defense industry can also—aside from tayo ang sinusupplyan—meron tayong capability na at par na sa ibang countries’ defense industries. Our local industry can also supply to our ally,” he added.</p><p>“I think it’s the time we produce and maintain those equipment. We will be relying, lalo kung wala pa sila [foreign manufacturers] ditong maintenance depots. It will take time to refurbish and repair, whereas kung nandito na ang technology by our local manufacturers, mas madali ang turnaround time,” he further said.</p><p>Asked how many units of COBRA the Army plans to initially have, Nafarrete answered: “Siguro 20 muna ang pwedeng ireproduce natin.”</p><p>Tamayo said that as early as now, several manufacturers have expressed interest in full-scale production.</p><p>“May manufacturers naman, around five na, na hindi pa man buo ang COBRA, nagbigay na sila ng letter of intent na they want to be a manufacturer of COBRA because of the success of BUHAWI. Bibigyan sila ng license kapag pumasa sila sa fairness opinion report,” the DOST official noted.</p><p>Tamayo estimated that if produced in batches of 20, COBRA units may cost P8 million to P10 million each.</p><p>“The imported RCWS na binili naman natin several years ago—yung 8 to 10 million baka 1/5 lang ng imported. It will be savings for the country. We will give more jobs to Filipinos and the defense industry. Hindi tayo aasa sa ibang bansa dahil baka ang bansang iyon pa ang gigiyera sa atin. Huwag naman sana,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/28/afp-welcomes-dnd-push-to-fast-track-modernization-program-2248">AFP welcomes DND push to fast-track modernization program</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>MORE FILIPINO-DEVELOPED DEFENSE TECHNOLOGIES</strong></div><p>DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said the agency continues to work on other defense-related technologies in partnership with other government agencies and universities.</p><p>“While we have not discussed the other projects for the DND, we have been developing new technologies,” Solidum said. “For example, one agency instructed the DOST to develop a new a way of armoring the vehicle. So, we’re developing composite fibers so this can be lighter, maneuvered very easily and you will have lower fuel cost.”</p><p>“We also have PPE for our soldiers and policemen,” he continued.</p><p>“It has been ongoing. Some are funded projects with universities, iba naman sa ibang agencies,” he noted.</p><p>Project COBRA is backed by Republic Act No. 12024 or the Self Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Revitalization Act, which aims to promote a sustainable local defense industry.</p><p>“This achievement shows that we have the skill, capacity and drive to advance our SRDP journey,” DND Defense Technology Research and Industry Development (DTRID) Undersecretary Rene Diaz said in his speech during the ceremony.</p><p>“Science is a key driver of defense capability… The source of strength is science. Our commitment to scientific innovation is the pillar of national strength,” he added.</p>

<p>The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) turned over on Thursday the Controller Operated Battle Ready Armament (COBRA) to the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Army (PA) in a ceremony held at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.</p>

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) turned over on Thursday the Controller Operated Battle Ready Armament (COBRA) to the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Army (PA) in a ceremony held at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.