Philippine Fishermen Catch Mysterious Spy Drone Floating Off San Pascual Coast

Three fishermen in the Philippines found a mysterious six-foot-long yellow underwater drone floating about six miles off the coast of San Pascual in Masbate province on December 30, 2024.

The device, marked “HY-119”, was handed over to the Philippines Navy for investigation after police confirmed it was safe to handle.

Authorities believe the drone is of Chinese origin and suspect it to be an advanced underwater navigation and communication system.

The Philippine National Police described the finding as important for national security, which could provide insights into advanced underwater technology and naval capabilities.

The drone, shaped like a torpedo with fins lacks a propeller. Experts identified it as a “seaglider”, a type of unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) that uses buoyancy to move through the water.

This design allows the drone to gather oceanographic data, such as salinity, temperature and currents, which are crucial for submarine operations.

The device is believed to be capable of monitoring, reconnaissance, and possibly collecting hydrographic data. It could also be used to detect enemy submarines or conduct surveillance.

Police Brig. General Andre Dizon said that open-source research linked the HY-119 to a Chinese underwater navigation and communication system. He added that the drone has an antenna and a viewing mechanism, which can be used for monitoring and surveillance.

Experts say the design of this drone closely resembles the “Sea Wing” (Haiyi) unmanned underwater vehicle developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Similar devices were found in Indonesia in recent years between 2019 and 2020.

Maritime strategy expert Ray Powell warns about the presence of the drone, suspecting it could be a move to prepare for conflicts or deploy submarines in the area.

Col. Xerxes Trinidad, a spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, praised the fishermen for quickly reporting the device. He said that local communities play an important role in helping authorities protect Philippine waters.

Brig. General Dizon also asked the fishermen to report any unusual objects they find at sea and avoid tampering with them for safety reasons. The Philippine Navy is now analysing the drone to find out its exact purpose and origin.

Reference: Newsweek, IBT

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