US-ASEAN Business Council Concludes Largest-Ever Aerospace, Defense, & Security Mission to the Philippines

Metro Manila, August 15, 2025 — The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) successfully concluded its 2025 Aerospace, Defense, and Security (ADS) Mission to the Philippines on August 15, marking its largest-ever industry delegation in its 41-year history. The two-day mission brought together 26 leading U.S. defense and aerospace companies to deepen strategic engagement at a pivotal time in U.S.-Philippines relations. 

Co-led by USABC Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director Ambassador Ted Osius (ret.) and Boeing Southeast Asia VP and ADS Committee Chair Dale McDowall, the mission built on the momentum of Balikatan 2025 and reaffirmed mutual commitments to defense modernization, aerospace innovation, and regional security. 

Held back-to-back with USABC’s annual Philippines Business Mission (August 11–14), the dual missions brought nearly 60 U.S. companies to the country—underscoring robust private sector support for the Philippines’ development and defense priorities. 

“The U.S. private sector is firmly committed to supporting the Philippines’ long-term security and economic goals,” said Ambassador Osius. “This mission reflects our enduring strategic partnership and shared vision for regional stability.” ​ 

The delegation held a dinner reception in honor of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., which was attended by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Romero Brawner, Jr., along with over 120 leaders from the security and defense ecosystem in the country. ​ 

“I really feel honored by this strong expression of confidence and trust [from the U.S. private sector].” Secretary Teodoro said in his keynote speech. “The Philippine defense system now is busy catching up on infrastructure development, our strategic basing, warehousing, that are secure and resilient. At the end of the day [the Philippines and the United States are] still together. We will never be apart because we share the same values.” 

The mission opened with briefings with the U.S. Embassy in Manila led by Deputy Chief of Mission Y. Robert Ewing, followed by individual business-to-government and business-to-business meetings arranged by the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of Commerce, under its Trade Event Partnership Program. ​ 

High-level meetings were held with Philippine defense and civilian leadership, led by Secretary Teodoro, Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, Air Force Commanding General Arthur Cordura, Civil Aviation Authority Director General Lieutenant General Raul Del Rosario (ret.), the Philippine Army, the Department of Budget and Management, and the Senate and House Committees on National Defense and Security. ​ 

The delegation also received briefings on the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Act from the Defense Department, the Board of Investments, and the Public-Private Partnership Center. Two Filipino companies, First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) and the Armscor Global Defense, Inc., offered practical insights into the local business landscape and highlighted opportunities for industrial collaboration and local defense manufacturing 

Under the theme “Strengthening Philippine-U.S. Aerospace, Defense, and Security Ties: Advancing Innovation and Strategic Resilience in the Indo-Pacific Region,” the mission highlighted opportunities for co-production, joint development, technology transfers, and workforce development across defense systems, dual-use technologies, and cyber capabilities. The mission aligns closely with U.S. Department of Defense’s Maritime Security (MARSEC) Consortium — reaffirmed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue — which promotes enhanced maritime security in Southeast Asia through public-private cooperation. 

Beyond defense, discussions included civil aviation, disaster resilience, and the broader role of the ADS sector in driving inclusive economic growth. 

“Missions like this are vital to advancing the next phase of military modernization in the Philippines,” said mission co-lead Dale McDowall. “Boeing is honored to collaborate with the Council and the Philippine government to advance capabilities that transform both civilian and defense domains. This work strengthens the nation’s readiness and elevates its strategic posture in a rapidly evolving Indo-Pacific region.” 

Participating companies represented a broad cross-section of the U.S. aerospace and defense industry included USABC’s ADS Industry Committee Chair Boeing, Vice Chairs GE Aerospace and IMSG, Philippines Committee Co-Chair Citi, USABC members Lockheed Martin, Atmo, Bell, and RTX, as well as AEVEX Aerospace, Alliance Global Group, Anglicotech Philippines Inc., BAE Systems, Bardex Corporation, COLT, Domo Tactical Communications, Echodyne Corporation, Forward Edge-AI, HavocAI, HawkEye 360, Leonardo DRS, Naval Systems, Inc., Neros Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Planet Labs, Silvus Technologies, and Universal Synaptics.