Officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Drone Support Unit (DSU) have returned home with enhanced operational capabilities following major regional security deployments in Palau and Tuvalu.

Supported by the RSIPF and Australian Federal Police Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP), the deployments allowed local officers to apply their specialist drone skills alongside international partners in complex operational environments.

A statement from Police Media said in August and September 2026, the DSU deployed to Palau as part of the Pacific Policing Support Group (PPSG) for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

It said the team provided aerial surveillance, monitored key venues, and strengthened security arrangements for visiting delegations.

“During the Palau operation, RSIPF officers established live video streams to the Police Operations Centre, working closely with the Palau Bureau of Public Safety and United States Army counter-drone teams,” the statement said.

Following this, the unit deployed to Tuvalu in October 2026 to support PPSG operations for the PRE-COP31 summit.

Working alongside Tuvalu Police and Tuvalu Aviation, the RSIPF team conducted venue surveillance and security assessments, providing live aerial footage to assist security planners and regional commanders.

The consecutive deployments highlight the growing contribution Solomon Islands is making to security efforts across the Pacific.

The RSIPF says the technical expertise and practical experience gained during these high-profile international events will now be directly applied to emergency responses, national security operations, and major domestic events in Solomon Islands.