Officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Drone Support Unit (DSU) have returned from deployments supporting security operations in Palau and Tuvalu, bringing back operational experience and specialist skills, the RSIPF said on 29 October.
Police said the deployments were supported through the RSIPF and Australian Federal Police Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP), and gave the officers a chance to use their drone skills alongside police from the region and overseas.
The DSU went to Palau in August and September 2026 with the Pacific Policing Support Group (PPSG) during the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, police said. Officers flew surveillance, kept watch over the main venues and helped with the security put in place for visiting leaders and their delegations.
They also tracked other drones in the air and ran a live video feed into the Police Operations Centre, working with the Palau Bureau of Public Safety, PPSG command staff and United States Army counter-drone teams. Palau and partners in the region spoke well of the deployment, according to the RSIPF.
In October 2026, DSU personnel deployed to Tuvalu for PPSG operations linked to PRE-COP31. There the team carried out venue surveillance, security assessments and aerial monitoring, and supported communications and information sharing. Alongside Tuvalu Police and Tuvalu Aviation, it supplied live aerial footage for commanders and security planners.
Police said the two deployments show Solomon Islands officers are doing more for security across the region, and that the experience can be put to use at home during big events, emergencies, national security operations and everyday policing.
Source: Based on "RSIPF Drone Support Unit Strengthens Capability Through Regional Deployments", published by the Solomon Islands Government portal (solomons.gov.sb) on 29 October 2026. https://solomons.gov.sb/rsipf-drone-support-unit-strengthens-capability-through-regional-deployments/