NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
PBBM Witnesses Live-Fire Sea Drills
Presidential Photo
President Bong Bong Marcos recently observed the live-fire sea drills of the Balikatan 2023 exercise in Zambales, where President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnessed the sinking of an old Philippines Navy ship.
The drills, held some 2.8 kilometers from the Naval Education Training Doctrine Command (NETDC) in San Antonio, saw the participation of US and Philippine combat units in a combined joint littoral live-fire exercise.
The exercise involved approximately 1,400 Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Coast Guardsmen from both countries, using various ground and air-based weapons systems to detect, identify, target, and engage a target ship.
The bilateral weapons systems utilized in the war games included US and Philippine artillery, the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and the Avenger air defense systems. The exercise also featured state-of-the-art combat aircraft, such as AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, Philippine Air Force FA-50 Golden Eagle fighter-attack aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcons, US Marine F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, and the US Air Force Special Operations Command AC- 130 Spectre gunship. One of the most anticipated weapons was the HIMARS, which is a full-spectrum, combat-proven, all-weather, 24/7, lethal and responsive, wheeled precision strike weapons system.
According to Filipino and American military officials, the training event demonstrated the US-Philippine commitment to strengthening military capabilities and interoperability to meet shared modern-day security challenges. The Balikatan exercise is the largest annual exercise between the two allies and is now on its 38th iteration, marking the largest iteration to date. The exercise provides an opportunity for the two armed forces to enhance cooperation, increase capabilities and improve interoperability in conflict situations and disaster response.
Balikatan 2023 has a focus on bilateral integration of command and control, sensors and multi-domain fires. Approximately 17,600 participants are taking part in the exercise, developing interoperability and enhancing bilateral capabilities in the areas of maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban and aviation operations, cyber defense, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness. Key Philippine officials who attended the exercise included AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Zambales 2nd District Rep. Doris Maniquiz, and Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.
For the US side, attendees included Ambassador of the US to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford, and US Exercise Director Lt. Gen. William Jurney. The Philippines is a key US ally and the largest recipient of US military assistance, equipment, and training in the region. The US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty was signed in 1951 and is America's longest-standing defense treaty in the Indo-Pacific region.
The drills, held some 2.8 kilometers from the Naval Education Training Doctrine Command (NETDC) in San Antonio, saw the participation of US and Philippine combat units in a combined joint littoral live-fire exercise.
The exercise involved approximately 1,400 Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Coast Guardsmen from both countries, using various ground and air-based weapons systems to detect, identify, target, and engage a target ship.
The bilateral weapons systems utilized in the war games included US and Philippine artillery, the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and the Avenger air defense systems. The exercise also featured state-of-the-art combat aircraft, such as AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, Philippine Air Force FA-50 Golden Eagle fighter-attack aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcons, US Marine F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, and the US Air Force Special Operations Command AC- 130 Spectre gunship. One of the most anticipated weapons was the HIMARS, which is a full-spectrum, combat-proven, all-weather, 24/7, lethal and responsive, wheeled precision strike weapons system.
According to Filipino and American military officials, the training event demonstrated the US-Philippine commitment to strengthening military capabilities and interoperability to meet shared modern-day security challenges. The Balikatan exercise is the largest annual exercise between the two allies and is now on its 38th iteration, marking the largest iteration to date. The exercise provides an opportunity for the two armed forces to enhance cooperation, increase capabilities and improve interoperability in conflict situations and disaster response.
Balikatan 2023 has a focus on bilateral integration of command and control, sensors and multi-domain fires. Approximately 17,600 participants are taking part in the exercise, developing interoperability and enhancing bilateral capabilities in the areas of maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban and aviation operations, cyber defense, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness. Key Philippine officials who attended the exercise included AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Zambales 2nd District Rep. Doris Maniquiz, and Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.
For the US side, attendees included Ambassador of the US to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford, and US Exercise Director Lt. Gen. William Jurney. The Philippines is a key US ally and the largest recipient of US military assistance, equipment, and training in the region. The US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty was signed in 1951 and is America's longest-standing defense treaty in the Indo-Pacific region.
Apr 26, 2023
