A PHILIPPINE Army reservist finished 11th out of 76 elite drone pilots who competed in the final round of the Military International Drone Racing Tournament in Sydney, Australia, on March 14.
The victory of reservist Private First Class Rex Froilan Gil showcased the growing competence of the Philippine Army’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operators.
Competing in high-speed First-Person View (FPV) drone events that tested piloting agility, precision targeting and tactical maneuvering, the feat highlighted the Army’s commitment to keep pace with the rapidly evolving field of drone warfare.
Gil’s performance builds on the Army drone team’s 5th-place finish in the 2025 Military International Drone Racing Tournament at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.
The team, composed of an officer, two enlisted personnel and two reservists, was invited to the competition as part of the Australian Army’s 125th founding anniversary celebration.
