ph-risk-intelligence-research

AI Defense Framework for Philippine Security & Defense Agencies

Research Report on Global AI Implementation in Counterterrorism, Threat Detection, and National Security Operations

Prepared by:
Koleen Baes Paunon
Risk Intelligence Engineer
BPxAI

February 13, 2026

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has fundamentally transformed defense and intelligence operations globally. In 2025, leading nations deploy AI-powered systems for threat prediction, counterterrorism, surveillance, and strategic decision-making. This report examines the current state of AI implementation in defense agencies worldwide and presents a comprehensive, actionable framework for the Philippine defense sector.

Global intelligence agencies have demonstrated that AI increases threat detection accuracy by up to 94.5%, reduces incident response times by over 90%, and enables the processing of petabytes of data that would be impossible for human analysts alone. The United States, United Kingdom, Israel, and other advanced nations have invested billions in AI-driven defense capabilities, establishing dedicated organizational structures and ethical frameworks to govern their deployment.

The Philippines stands at a critical juncture. With the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) targeting an AI-powered nation by 2028 through the National AI Strategy, and the country improving from 61st to 53rd in the UN Global Cybersecurity Index, we have momentum. However, defense-specific AI implementation remains nascent compared to peer nations in ASEAN and globally.

This report provides a plug-and-play framework that Philippine defense agencies can implement immediately. The framework addresses five critical dimensions: technical infrastructure, workforce development, operational integration, ethical governance, and international cooperation. Each component includes specific requirements, implementation steps, and success metrics tailored to Philippine context and constraints.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. GLOBAL AI IMPLEMENTATION IN DEFENSE AND INTELLIGENCE
  3. TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES AND APPLICATIONS
  4. PHILIPPINE CONTEXT AND READINESS ASSESSMENT
  5. IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK FOR PHILIPPINE DEFENSE AGENCIES
  6. REQUIREMENTS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION
  7. IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP
  8. RISK MANAGEMENT AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
  9. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background and Context

The threat landscape facing nations in 2025 is fundamentally different from any previous era. Terrorism has evolved from centralized organizations like Al-Qaeda to decentralized networks and lone actors radicalized online. Extremist groups such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) leverage generative AI to produce propaganda in 13 languages simultaneously, creating polished videos and synthetic voice clips that rival professional journalism. The Philippines faces its own unique challenges with Abu Sayyaf, communist insurgency, and transnational threats that require sophisticated intelligence capabilities.

The volume of intelligence data has grown exponentially. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) transports more data globally than any other U.S. agency. Intelligence communities worldwide face a fundamental constraint: not scarcity of information but abundance. The human analyst has become the limiting factor when processing surveillance footage, communications intercepts, social media posts, and open-source intelligence. This data deluge demands AI-powered solutions.

1.2 Research Objectives

This research aims to:

1.3 Methodology

This research synthesizes publicly available defense strategies, academic literature, and recent developments in AI-powered defense systems from 2024-2025. Primary sources include the U.S. Department of Defense AI strategy, UK Ministry of Defence AI framework, Israeli defense AI initiatives, and Philippine national AI strategies. The framework development draws from operational best practices, technical requirements documented in military AI implementations, and international governance standards including the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI.

2. GLOBAL AI IMPLEMENTATION IN DEFENSE AND INTELLIGENCE

2.1 United States

Organizational Structure

The U.S. established the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) in 2018, later integrated into the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) in 2021, which now oversees all Pentagon AI strategy. The Intelligence Community prioritizes automating each stage of the intelligence cycle, processing all available data through AI-enabled analytic systems before human analyst review.

Key Programs and Applications

Investment and Resources

DARPA announced a multi-year investment exceeding $2 billion in the AI Next campaign. The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) establishes robust cybersecurity policies for all AI systems and requires creation of assessment frameworks by June 2026, with completion by June 2027.

2.2 United Kingdom

Strategic Framework

The UK Defence AI Strategy, published June 2022 and reinforced by Joint Service Publication 936 (November 2024), serves as the principal policy framework for safe and responsible AI adoption. The Defence AI Playbook (February 2024) facilitates industry collaboration. The June 2025 Strategic Defence Review mandates greater use of autonomy and AI within conventional forces as part of military modernization.

Key Principles

2.3 Israel

In January 2025, Israel’s Defence Ministry created a new AI and Autonomy Administration to lead research, development, and acquisition across all branches of the Israel Defence Forces. Israel’s approach integrates AI into algorithmic warfare with minimal human oversight in certain applications, though this raises significant ethical concerns internationally.

2.4 Other Notable Implementations

Japan

In August 2024, Japan allocated ¥18 billion for an AI surveillance system and procurement of unmanned drones and automated warships, primarily to counter declining enlistment and the perceived threat from China.

Singapore and ASEAN

Singapore has emerged as a regional leader in AI governance, implementing sector-specific frameworks. The ASEAN region is developing collaborative approaches to AI in defense while maintaining sovereign control over military applications.

3. TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES AND APPLICATIONS

3.1 Core AI Technologies in Defense

Computer Vision

Applications:

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Applications:

Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics

Applications:

3.2 Operational Use Cases

Counterterrorism

Cyber Defense

Border Security and Critical Infrastructure

4. PHILIPPINE CONTEXT AND READINESS ASSESSMENT

4.1 Current AI Initiatives

The Philippines has made significant strides in establishing AI governance and strategy. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the National AI Strategy for the Philippines (NAIS-PH) following a sectoral meeting in October 2025, tasking DOST to lead AI development. The strategy spans five key areas: infrastructure, workforce, innovation, ethics and policy, and deployment, with phased implementation from 2024 to 2028.

Key Achievements

4.2 Defense Sector Specific Context

The Department of National Defense (DND) is pursuing the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept through Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization. The Asian Defense and Security Exhibition (ADAS) 2024 highlighted focus areas: asymmetric warfare, information security, cyber defense, and cybersecurity. However, AI integration in defense operations remains limited compared to civilian sectors.

Current Applications

4.3 Challenges and Gaps

4.4 Strategic Opportunities

5. IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK FOR PHILIPPINE DEFENSE AGENCIES

This framework provides a comprehensive, modular approach that defense agencies can adapt to their specific operational needs and constraints. It follows the Defense AI lifecycle: Planning → Development → Testing → Deployment → Monitoring → Refinement.

5.1 Organizational Structure

Create AI Coordination Office (ACO)

Purpose:
Centralized coordination point for AI initiatives across AFP branches and intelligence agencies, similar to U.S. CDAO model but scaled for Philippine context.

Key Responsibilities:

Establish Defense AI Ethics Advisory Panel

Composition:

5.2 Technical Infrastructure Development

Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1-6)

Phase 2: Core Capabilities (Months 7-18)

Phase 3: Advanced Integration (Months 19-36)

5.3 Workforce Development

Training Programs

Tier 1: AI Awareness (All Personnel)

Tier 2: AI Users (Analysts and Operators)

Tier 3: AI Specialists (Technical Staff)

Retention Strategy

6. REQUIREMENTS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION

6.1 Technical Requirements

Component Specifications Estimated Cost (PHP)
High-Performance Computing Cluster 200+ GPU nodes, 10 PetaFLOPS capacity 500M - 800M
Secure Cloud Infrastructure Private cloud, multi-region, 1PB storage 300M - 500M annually
AI Software Platforms Computer vision, NLP, analytics suites 200M - 400M
Network Infrastructure High-bandwidth secure network, encryption 150M - 250M
Sensors & IoT Devices Cameras, drones, maritime sensors 400M - 600M
TOTAL INFRASTRUCTURE Initial 3-year investment 1.55B - 2.55B

6.2 Personnel Requirements

Role Headcount Qualifications
AI Program Director 1 Senior defense official, AI strategy experience
AI Engineers/Data Scientists 50-75 MS/PhD in CS, AI/ML, 3+ years experience
Intelligence Analysts (AI-trained) 200-300 Existing analysts + 2-week AI training
System Administrators 20-30 IT/Cybersecurity background, cloud expertise
Ethics & Compliance Officers 5-10 Legal/policy background, AI ethics training

7. IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP

7.1 Year 1: Foundation (2026)

Q1 (Jan-Mar):

Q2 (Apr-Jun):

Q3 (Jul-Sep):

Q4 (Oct-Dec):

7.2 Year 2: Expansion (2027)

7.3 Year 3: Integration (2028)

8. RISK MANAGEMENT AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

8.1 Ethical Framework

Drawing from UK Ministry of Defence principles and the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI (endorsed by 60+ nations including key allies), the Philippines must establish clear ethical guidelines:

Core Principles:

8.2 Risk Mitigation Strategies

Risk Impact Mitigation
Algorithm Bias Discriminatory outcomes, false positives affecting minorities Diverse training data, bias testing, human review of high-impact decisions
Adversarial Attacks System manipulation, data poisoning Adversarial training, continuous monitoring, air-gapped critical systems
Privacy Violations Unconstitutional surveillance, data breaches Data minimization, encryption, access controls, regular audits
Mission Creep Expansion beyond authorized uses Clear legal mandates, oversight mechanisms, periodic reviews
Over-reliance Reduced human judgment, automation bias Training on AI limitations, human-in-the-loop design
Vendor Lock-in Dependence on foreign technology Open standards, local capability development, diverse vendor relationships

8.3 Oversight and Accountability

9. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

9.1 Immediate Actions (Next 6 Months)

  1. Secure Executive Approval: Present this framework to DND Secretary and National Security Council for formal adoption
  2. Allocate Initial Budget: Request PHP 500-800M for Year 1 infrastructure and personnel in 2027 budget cycle
  3. Establish Governance: Create AI Coordination Office and Ethics Advisory Panel with clear mandates
  4. Launch Pilot Projects: Select 2-3 low-risk, high-value use cases to demonstrate capability
  5. Begin Training: Initiate Tier 1 awareness programs for leadership and key personnel

9.2 Strategic Priorities

9.3 Success Metrics

By 2028, Philippine defense agencies should achieve:

9.4 Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence represents the most significant evolution in defense and intelligence capabilities since the digital revolution. Nations that successfully harness AI while maintaining ethical standards and democratic accountability will possess decisive advantages in protecting their citizens and interests.

The Philippines has a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional development pathways. We need not replicate the decades-long evolution of Western defense establishments. With the right strategy, partnerships, and investments, we can build modern, AI-powered defense capabilities that reflect Filipino values and address our specific security challenges.

This framework provides a clear path forward. It is comprehensive yet flexible, ambitious yet realistic, technologically advanced yet ethically grounded. Success requires sustained commitment from leadership, adequate resource allocation, and most importantly, a shared vision among all defense agencies.

The threats we face—terrorism, insurgency, cyber attacks, maritime incursions—are evolving rapidly. Our defensive capabilities must evolve faster. AI is not a silver bullet, but it is an essential force multiplier that enables our analysts, operators, and decision-makers to work smarter, faster, and more effectively.

The time to act is now. As we approach 2028—the target year for both DOST’s national AI strategy and this defense framework—we have a narrow window to establish the foundations that will protect the Philippines for decades to come. With unity of effort and proper execution, we can transform our defense posture from reactive to predictive, from resource-constrained to AI-augmented, from vulnerable to resilient.

The future of Philippine national security depends on decisions made today. This framework provides the blueprint. The rest depends on our collective will to implement it.

REFERENCES

  1. U.S. Department of Defense. (2024). National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
  2. UK Ministry of Defence. (2022). Defence Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
  3. Department of Science and Technology, Philippines. (2025). National AI Strategy for the Philippines (NAIS-PH).
  4. Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy. (2023). U.S. Department of State.
  5. Brennan Center for Justice. (2025). AI Provisions in the National Defense Policy Bill.
  6. Institute for National Security Studies. (2019). Artificial Intelligence and National Security in Israel.
  7. Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. (2021). Data, AI, and the Future of U.S. Counterterrorism.
  8. The Soufan Center. (2025). Assessment of the Global Terrorism Threat Landscape in Mid-2025.
  9. Northwestern University. (2023). Advancing AI Systems in Cybersecurity, Counterterrorism, and International Security.
  10. Philippine News Agency. (2025). DOST eyes AI-powered Philippines by 2028.
  11. Government of Philippines. (2025). PBBM: Make Best Use of AI for National Development.
  12. OpenGov Asia. (2025). Fortifying Data with AI: A New Era for the Philippines’ Security.
  13. Breaking Defense. (2026). Artificial Intelligence is Everywhere: 2025 Review.
  14. Chatham House. (2019). Artificial Intelligence Prediction and Counterterrorism.
  15. European Parliament Think Tank. (2025). Defence and Artificial Intelligence.

END OF REPORT