The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) concluded its 2025 Aerospace, Defense, and Security (ADS) Mission to the Philippines, marking the largest industry delegation in its 41-year history. Held from 14 to 15 August, the mission brought 26 top U.S. defense and aerospace firms to Manila to strengthen strategic ties amid deepening U.S.-Philippines security cooperation.
Co-led by USABC’s Ambassador Ted Osius (ret.) and Boeing Southeast Asia VP Dale McDowall, the mission followed the Balikatan 2025 exercises and reinforced mutual goals around defense modernization, aerospace innovation, and regional security.
“This mission reflects our enduring strategic partnership and shared vision for regional stability,” said Osius. McDowall added that such initiatives are “vital to advancing the next phase of military modernization in the Philippines.”
The ADS Mission was held back-to-back with USABC’s annual Philippines business mission, which brought nearly 60 U.S. firms to the country—highlighting sustained private sector backing for both economic and defense priorities.
Key engagements included high-level meetings with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., Armed Forces Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr., and top leaders from the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and civil aviation. U.S. Embassy briefings, B2B and B2G meetings, and discussions on the Philippines’ Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Act and public-private partnerships were also held.
At a dinner reception in Teodoro’s honor, the Secretary lauded the U.S. private sector’s support: “At the end of the day, we’re still together. We will never be apart because we share the same values.”
The mission explored joint development, technology transfer, cyber defense, and co-production opportunities, aligning with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Maritime Security (MARSEC) Consortium.
Beyond defense, topics such as civil aviation and disaster resilience were also discussed. Filipino companies First Philippine Industrial Park and Armscor Global Defense, Inc. shared insights on local industrial collaboration.
Participating firms included Boeing, GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, Bell, Citi, and over 20 others representing the breadth of the U.S. defense and aerospace sector.
