July 31, 2025 | Iligan City, Philippines
In an unprecedented leap for homegrown defense technology, students from the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) have unveiled designs that could place their institution at the forefront of indigenous defense innovation in the country—if not the entire region.
Photos courtesy of ABS-CBN News and Inquirer
During the first-ever Philippine Navy Self-Reliance Defense Posture (SRDP) Summit held in Manila, MSU-IIT students stunned military officials, technologists, and policymakers with the unveiling of a scale model of an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) dubbed “Sidlak Kanaway.” The name, evoking brilliance and seaborne strength in the local Maranao language, serves as the flagship project of MSU-IIT’s participation in the Philippine Autonomous Littoral Interdiction Drone (PALID) Program.
An Asymmetric Naval Disruptor
The “Sidlak Kanaway” is not just a student project—it is a vision of next-generation maritime warfare imagined and built by young Filipino minds. Weighing in at 650 kilograms, with an endurance of up to 48 hours, and a payload capacity of 150 kilograms, the USV is built for real-world mission profiles. It is hybrid-powered using petrol and electric motors and equipped with a 30x optical zoom camera and infrared (IR) sensors—tools ideal for surveillance and reconnaissance in littoral zones.
But what truly sets the “Sidlak Kanaway” apart is its dual-use design: it can operate not just as a surveillance platform, but also as a suicide drone—a naval asset capable of swarm attacks on much larger, more expensive warships. In an age where asymmetric warfare is rewriting the rules of engagement, the vessel’s potential to overwhelm even heavily defended ships, such as China’s Type 055 cruisers, with multiple small, fast, and cheap attackers, presents a bold and strategic paradigm shift.
Built using commercially available parts and indigenously sourced hull materials, the USV is also deliberately cost-effective and modular—a nod to the Philippines’ need for scalable and rapidly deployable defense technologies in contested waters.
Eyes in the Sky: EAVRAM UAV Concept
Not stopping at naval innovation, MSU-IIT’s student team also introduced their vision for air-based interdiction and surveillance through a new UAV design called the Expendable Aerial Vehicle for Reconnaissance and Assault Mission (EAVRAM).
Two variants are on the drawing board:
- EAVRAM Minim – A 3-kilogram, traditional-wing surveillance drone with a 1-kilogram payload and a 20-kilometer range. Compact, battery-powered, and ideal for short-range tactical use.
- D-EAVRAM – A delta-wing design for long-range “assault” missions, boasting a 100-kilometer range, a 7-kilogram maximum takeoff weight, and the ability to carry a 3-kilogram payload, such as an RPG-7 round for strike missions.
Both designs are made from 3D-printed plastic parts and foamboards, prioritizing lightweight durability and mass production using low-cost materials—a testament to MSU-IIT’s commitment to scalable and affordable innovation.
Not Just a School Project—A Statement of Capability
What separates MSU-IIT’s defense tech projects from other university endeavors is the strategic clarity behind them. These are not just academic exercises—they are concepts that anticipate real-world conflict scenarios, particularly in the context of the Philippines’ need for credible deterrence in its contested maritime domains.
With tensions simmering in the West Philippine Sea and defense budgets stretched thin, the potential for indigenous, cost-efficient, and scalable technologies like those presented by MSU-IIT cannot be overstated. The possibility of turning the tide with swarms of homebuilt drones—both at sea and in the air—may redefine how the country defends its territory.
A Milestone for Mindanao and the Nation
More than just a technical achievement, this milestone reflects the growing role of Mindanao in national defense and innovation. MSU-IIT’s student team not only represents academic excellence but the strategic vision of a region too often overlooked in the national defense conversation.
In a time when the Philippines is working to build its Self-Reliant Defense Posture, the efforts of these young innovators echo a powerful message: the future of Filipino defense doesn’t just lie in imported weapons or foreign doctrines. It can rise from the ingenuity of its youth, from institutions like MSU-IIT, and from the resilient spirit of Mindanao.
Sidlak Kanaway. EAVRAM. These names might soon be etched in the annals of Philippine defense development—and they began as student projects in Iligan City.
MSU-IIT has not only dared to dream big; it may have just charted a new course for the country’s defense future.