More than 16,000 uniformed personnel from the Philippines and the United States will start converging in various areas in Luzon as the annual war games, with the biggest contingent this year, starts on Monday, April 22.

Aside from main contingents from the two countries, the military exercises will also be observed by representatives from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, India, Brunei Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In a statement, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr. said this year’s 39^th iteration of Balikatan it will feature the deployment and utilization of cutting-edge military assets such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Rapid Infiltration, Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), and various unmanned aerial systems.

And for the first time in its history, a contingent from the French Navy will participate in the joint sail and maneuver with the US and the Philippines.

These are what makes this year’s Balikatan exercise distinctive, according to AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla

“Every Balikatan is increasingly complex than the last. It has evolved from the tactical to the operational level of war. We aim to enhance interoperability, strengthen alliances, and deepen regional security cooperation,” said Padilla.

Balikatan is a demonstration of combat readiness and interoperability with our treaty allies. Our focus remains on bolstering external defense capabilities and fostering peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” she added.

For this year, the police’s elite Special Action Force also sent its biggest contingent to participate in the event.

The key event will be the Maritime Strike, which seeks to integrate joint and combined fires, combined joint dynamic targeting, and multi-domain effects through the sinking of the adversary’s vessel.

Three components

The Balikatan exercises will span various locations under the Northern Luzon Command, Western Command, and Southern Luzon Command areas of operation.

The entire exercises are structured around three main components: Command and Control Exercise (C2X), Field Training Exercise (FTX), and Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA).

C2X will encompass a Staff Exercise, a Cyber Defense Exercise, and an inaugural Information Warfighter Exercise, all designed to test the ability of AFP and US forces to plan, command, and communicate effectively in simulated scenarios.

The FTX, on the other hand, will concentrate on combined joint all-domain operations, including vital maritime terrain protection, air assault operations, and reconnaissance activities.

Brawner said this year’s Balikatan 2024 will incorporate HCA projects aimed at benefiting local communities such as the construction of school buildings in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan, as well as health care centers in La Union and Palawan.

“These endeavors underscore the commitment to fostering sustainable development and strengthening ties between military forces and civilian populations,” said Brawner.

Not targeting any country

Padilla stressed that the Balikatan is an annual military exercise that is not intended for any country.

“This Balikatan exercise is an annual event aimed at strengthening defense capabilities and alliances. While we remain vigilant in the face of regional challenges, the exercise is not explicitly tied to any particular country's actions,” said Padilla.

“Its primary objective is to enhance collective security and readiness among participating nations,” she added.

Brawner, for his part, said they will host an international observers program to promote regional defense cooperation among ASEAN-member nations and other strategic partners.

"Together, we speed up our march towards enhancing our military capabilities for maritime security alongside honing other competencies in order to effectively address the dynamic challenges across all domains,” said Brawner.