Some of the most modern equipment of the United States and Philippine marines will be used in the "KAMANDAG" Exercise 2022 which officially started Monday, Oct. 3.
The US Marine Corps (USMC) said that it will utilize F-35B Lightning II, a fifth-generation stealth multi-role combat aircraft, in the KAMANDAG Exercise.
The F-35B Lightning II is one of the only two types of operational stealth fighters in the world. The other stealth fighter aircraft is called F-22 Raptor, and both are manufactured by American aerospace firm Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
The stealth fighters were seen onboard USS Tripoli (LHA-7), a United States Navy amphibious assault ship, which docked in Manila last Sept. 27. The vessel will also participate in the exercise by transporting the troops during the duration of the two-week long drills.
"The F-35s will be participating in some live fire at CERAB (Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base, Tarlac) as well as simulated close air support near NBCO (Naval Base Camilo Osias, Sta. Ana, Cagayan) and Calayan (in Cagayan)," said Maj. Emery Torre, Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) spokesperson.
Aside from the F-35B Lightning II, the US Marine Corps will also utilize its MV-22B Osprey, a multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing and short takeoff and landing capabilities; CH-53E Super Stallion, a heavy-lift helicopter; AH-1Z Viper, a twin-engine attack helicopter; a twin-engine, medium-sized utility helicopter; and KC-130J Super Hercules, a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft.
"This year's events were specifically focused on... amphibious operations, live fire training, staff planning, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," said Rear Adm. Derek Trinque, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 7 and Amphibious Force, 7th Fleet of the US Navy.
"Training together enables us to be more prepared to address real-world challenges," he added.
For the PMC, they will use the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) during a combined arms live-fire exercise in Capaz, Tarlac.
The PMC uses the HIMARS to strengthen archipelagic coastal defense through the use of light multiple rocket launchers.
"The purpose of this is to exercise our doctrines and collaboration with our allies," said Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia, acting Philippine Navy (PN) Flag Officer in Command.
KAMANDAG, which stands for Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma mula sa Dagat (Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea), is a bilateral training between the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC).
A total of 3,760 marines and naval troops will participate in the exercise: 1,057 from PMC, 2,553 from USMC; while 120 personnel from Republic of Korea (ROK) Marine Corps and 30 personnel from the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) will act as “observers” and join the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) drills.