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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH, US armies to fire HIMARS rocket launchers in 'Lightning Strike' exercise

PH, US armies to fire HIMARS rocket launchers in 'Lightning Strike' exercise

Published Jun 25, 2025 05:55 pm
Philippine Army personnel inspect the hardware of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during a live fire exercise at the Canantong Fire Base in Laur, Nueva Ecija on August 9, 2024. (File photo: PA)
Philippine Army personnel inspect the hardware of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during a live fire exercise at the Canantong Fire Base in Laur, Nueva Ecija on August 9, 2024. (File photo: PA)
The Philippine Army (PA) and the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) will conduct a coordinated deep attack exercise in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija on June 30.
The live fire exercise for Operation Lightning Strike will be highlighted by the firing of two High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) platforms, which are precision rocket launchers.
“The Philippine Army, through the Artillery Regiment, and the USARPAC's 25th Infantry Division will carry out a coordinated deep attack dubbed as 'Operation Lightning Strike' as part of the 'Salaknib' Phase 2 on June 30, 2025 within the vicinity of Palayan City, Nueva Ecija,” Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala said.
The two forces will also utilize four AH-64 Apache attack helicopters during the drills.
Dema-ala said the exercise “will enhance interoperability and tactical proficiency in a controlled environment.”
“This high-impact military activity is a key component of PH-US SABAK 25 designed to showcase the Philippine Army’s operational capabilities, joint interoperability, and commitment to regional security and readiness,” Dema-ala noted.
In March, the PA and USARPAC launched Exercise SABAK aimed at enhancing both forces’ capability on operational command and control (C2), combined arms force-on-force, large-scale operational maneuvers, combined arms live fire exercise, and sustainment operations in support of external security operations.
Exercise SABAK is a combination of the PA-led “Exercise Salaknib” and the broader “Exercise Balikatan”, the annual military exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and US Armed Forces.
Currently, the PA and USARPAC are on the second phase of Salaknib Exercise, an annual bilateral exercise led by PA and sponsored by the USARPAC, which runs from May 19 to July 20. The first phase was held from March 24 to April 11.
The drills were being held in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, as well as the area of responsibility (AOR) of the 5th Infantry Division (5ID) in Northern Luzon and the 7th Infantry Division (5ID) in Central Luzon.
PH, Australian troops conclude bilateral drills in Mindanao
Meanwhile, the PA concluded its bilateral drills with the Australian Defense Force dubbed as Exercise Kasangga in Cagayan de Oro City on June 24.
A total of 140 personnel from the PA’s 504th Combat Engineer Battalion, Combat Engineer Regiment, and selected troops from the 4th and 10th Infantry Divisions trained side by side with 90 Australian Army soldiers in the month-long bilateral training.
The Filipino and Australian troops trained together on jungle and urban operations, breaching operations, tactical combat casualty care, jungle survival training, as well as mobility, counter-mobility and reconnaissance operations.

Related Tags

Philippine Army USARPAC Lightning Strike exercise HIMARS Salaknib SABAK Balikatan Australian Defense Force Exercise Katanga
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