The Philippines will launch a liquid-fueled rocket in 2027. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. announced the plan during his fifth State of the Nation Address. The historic event will boost Filipino expertise in rocket development. It will also advance the national launch capabilities.
A ten-member team from the Philippine Space Agency is currently in South Korea. The team is undergoing intensive training from August to October 2026. Members are learning about the development, assembly, and testing of a liquid-fueled rocket. This effort prepares the agency for the upcoming launch in Lal-lo, Cagayan next year.
The training is part of the SIKLAB Project. SIKLAB stands for Building Industrial Space Launch Systems Project. PhilSA conducts this program with Perigee Aerospace, Inc. Perigee is a South Korean space mobility company. The current collaboration builds on a partnership that began in 2022.
The ongoing training provides PhilSA personnel with vital practical experience. Workers gain hands-on skills in rocket assembly and systems integration. They also learn testing and operational procedures. Furthermore, they prepare for the scheduled test launch. Through this knowledge transfer, PhilSA is developing domestic expertise. This includes rocket systems, launch operations, and safety procedures. It also covers related launch-support activities.
Rockets act as critical enablers for space exploration. They provide direct access to space. Rockets transport satellites and scientific payloads. These technologies then deliver essential services back to Earth.
“Progressively developing our domestic launch capabilities will allow greater flexibility and independence in sending satellites into space, which serves the country’s key sectors such as security, telecommunications, and agriculture,” explained PhilSA Acting Director General Gay Jane P. Perez, Ph.D.
The current program follows a first phase conducted in 2025. It now expands across a broader range of activities. Workers focus on the full system assembly of a sounding rocket. They also handle integration and testing in South Korea. Finally, they prepare for operations during the test launch in Cagayan. The team uses the Blue Whale 0.1 platform. BW0.1 is a liquid-propellant sounding rocket developed by Perigee.
PhilSA and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority are working in parallel. They conduct local site preparation and dialogues with local government units. They also speak with constituents in Cagayan. Officials are developing a safety exclusion zone plan. This plan ensures the safety of nearby areas during all execution stages.
The liquid-fueled sounding rocket was built by the PhilSA team during training. Workers will ship the rocket to the Philippines. It will undergo further testing before the launch next year. During the flight, it will carry a locally developed payload. The payload weighs about two kilograms. It will reach an altitude of at least five kilometers.
PhilSA designed this payload as a technology demonstration. It supports a future suborbital or satellite-based platform. The device detects and monitors radio signals from ground-based sources. In simple terms, the payload measures signal strength. It targets signals coming from sources like 4G LTE cell towers. Engineers may eventually use this data to identify areas with low cellular coverage. Its deployment via sounding rocket provides a relevant flight environment. This test supports the advancement of its technology readiness level.
“A successful liquid-fueled sounding rocket test launch in 2027 will demonstrate that we have the technical, operational, safety, and regulatory foundations for future launches from the Philippines; and potentially attract foreign investments from private aerospace companies,” emphasized Perez.
President Marcos identified Cagayan as geographically and economically primed in his 2026 SONA. The region serves as the country’s gateway to space. The Cagayan North International Airport provides existing infrastructure. It supports the conduct of the launch activity. The institutional and economic zone framework administered by CEZA complements this setup. Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology provides connectivity. Ascend International Gateway also offers logistical support. Ascend is a Philippine corporation engaged in airport management.
“Beyond the test launch, SIKLAB is a long-term investment in Filipino talent and innovation,” said Perez. “Through collaboration among government, industry, and international partners, PhilSA is building technical competencies and operational experience while contributing to a broader vision: a Philippine space ecosystem where the next generation of Filipino scientists, engineers, business, and support professionals don’t have to leave, because they can develop their expertise and pursue high-value careers as part of the country’s growing space sector.”
PhilSA and its partners will continue generating technical insights. These insights apply to future spaceport development. They also aid industrial partnerships and regional cooperation. SIKLAB represents a government-led capability-building initiative. It focuses heavily on launch vehicle technology. The program strengthens national capabilities for future launch activities. It creates new opportunities for innovation, investment, and employment.