CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City – The combined information and effects fusion center were cited as the key to the successful conduct of the Combined Joint Littoral Live Fire Exercise (CJLLFEX) on Wednesday, April 26, according to Commodore Karl A. Decapia, Joint Task Force-Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) commander of the exercise.
The CJLLFEX is one of the significant and successful highlights of the just conducted US-PH Balikatan Exercise 2023.
"As the joint task force commander, I am extremely proud of the level of coordination and integration that we were able to achieve between the US and Philippine forces during the CJLLFEX,” said Decapia, current Nolcom deputy commander.
“Our centralized and strategic controlling body, the Combined Information and Effects Fusion Center, allowed us to efficiently manage and execute the operation. The seamless fusion of ground, air, and human components resulted in the precise targeting and engagement of a hostile vessel. This exercise demonstrated our readiness and commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability," added Decapia.
The CJLLFEX took place in San Antonio, Zambales, with the Combined Information and Effects Fusion Center (CIEFC) in Camp Aquino, San Miguel, Tarlac City serving as the controlling body for the entire operation.
The CIEFC is a combined element that has a repository of information collection capabilities which is not seen at the CJLLFEX site in San Antonio, Zambales.
The CIEFC combines ground, air, and human components to collect information and create a target set, which is then used to determine the appropriate weapon to prosecute and hold the target in custody.
With the guidance of the JTF commander, the CIEFC supported and allowed the joint and combined force to synchronize all assets to increase the timeliness of prosecuting the target within any area and domain in the Philippine region manifesting the expertise and collaboration of the participating teams.
The CJLLFEX had displayed a unique highlight in the form of a sinking exercise involving the Philippine Navy's decommissioned BRP Pangasinan (PS-31), a corvette from World War II.
Designated as an adversarial vessel for the drill, the PS-31 has been positioned 12 nautical miles away from the coastal waters of San Antonio. It was targeted to be sunk using a range of sophisticated weaponry such as the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Avenger air defense systems, 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 a US Air Force Special Operations Command AC-130 Spectre gunship.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally witnessed the CJLLFEX wherein around 1,400 military personnel from both countries participated in the training, which focused on detecting, identifying, targeting, and engaging a target ship using ground and air-based weapons systems.
The 38th iteration of the Balikatan is the largest to date, with approximately 17,600 participants taking part to enhance the capabilities of both the US and Philippine forces in areas such as maritime security, amphibious operations, live fire training, urban and aviation operations, cyber defense, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness.
Through this exercise, both countries continue to develop interoperability and strengthen their bilateral relationship.