00:00A new defense innovation is turning heads as it showcases how homegrown technology can push the envelope further and keep boots on the ground safer than ever.
00:09With its impressive capabilities and promise for future production, this breakthrough project may soon become a game changer for the country's defense landscape.
00:19Our Patrick DeJesus tells us more.
00:20With the help of a remote-controlled weapon station, a caliber .50 machine gun mounted on a Philippine Army armored personnel carrier hit the targets during a capability demonstration at Camp O'Donel in Kapas, Tarlac.
00:42This is Project Cobra or the controller-operated battle-ready armament which is 100% locally developed by Filipinos.
00:51It has already been turned over by the Department of Science and Technology to the Department of National Defense.
00:58Project Cobra is integrated into the caliber .50 remote-controlled weapon station mounted on the armored vehicle and is equipped with electro-optics with target-locking capability and a ballistic computer.
01:12Using just a joystick, Project Cobra can identify targets at a distance of up to 3 kilometers.
01:19Therefore, in firefights, soldier safety can be better ensured.
01:24With the manual, it's very dangerous for our soldiers. They are exposed to enemy fire. And with this, all the operations in manning the gun, firing the gun will be done inside the APC.
01:44Huwag po kayong mag-alala. This Cobra does not bite. But it does strike with precision, stability, and most importantly, proudly Filipino engineering.
01:58The research and development for Project Cobra took two years and cost 29 million pesos.
02:05Aside from boosting the Philippine Army's firepower, it also aligns with the government's revitalized self-reliant defense posture aimed at supporting the country's defense industry.
02:16Later on, we can compete also our local defense industry. Can also later on, aside from tayong sinasupplyan, with that capability na at par na sa ibang country's defense industries, then our local industry can also supply to our allies. So, malaking bagay sa ekonomiya natin.
02:42As we have learned from conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, supply chain reliability is of the utmost importance. Therefore, the implementation of the SRDP program through projects such as Cobra not only brings economic benefits to our people, it also builds our resilience.
03:06For now, there is only one unit of Project Cobra, but the Philippine Army's target is for all their armored vehicles to be equipped with it.
03:15According to DOST, five manufacturers in the Philippines have expressed interest in reproducing it.
03:22Hopefully, once na nag-mature na ito, na-test naman na, successful ang testing, very accurate, precise, and sustained naman yung mga parts nito, kasi most of them are locally available.
03:41The maintenance nito, even the soldiers can maintain it, kasi tuturuan sila ng DOST.
03:48Patrick Desus, from the National TV Network, for a new and better Philippines.
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