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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH Army tests coastal defense capability during 'Katihan' live-fire drill in Pangasinan

PH Army tests coastal defense capability during 'Katihan' live-fire drill in Pangasinan

Published Mar 10, 2026 04:29 pm
Philippine Army artillery units equipped with 105-mm towed guns defend the coastal position during the Littoral Defense Live Fire Exercise in Burgos, Pangasinan on March 9, 2026, as part of the Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) Katihan.⁩ (Photo: PA)
Philippine Army artillery units equipped with 105-mm towed guns defend the coastal position during the Littoral Defense Live Fire Exercise in Burgos, Pangasinan on March 9, 2026, as part of the Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) Katihan.⁩ (Photo: PA)
The Philippine Army (PA) successfully repelled a simulated enemy assault during a littoral defense live-fire exercise in Burgos, Pangasinan on Monday, March 9, as part of the ongoing Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) “Katihan”.
Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, Army chief, said the drill showcased the military’s growing capability to defend the country’s coastline amid evolving regional security challenges.
The 701st Combined Arms Brigade led the exercise, employing armored infantry fighting vehicles equipped with Remote Control Weapons Systems (RCWS) and 105mm towed howitzers.
Meanwhile, Army reservists also deployed combat drones against strategically placed targets along the Burgos shoreline.
Nafarrete personally observed the live-fire drills and stressed the importance of training hard to meet the challenges of the fast-changing global and regional security landscape.
He commended the participating troops for their performance during the CATEZ Katihan, which is now on its third iteration.
The exercise tests the Army’s Land Defense Concept in support of external security operations (ESO), which essentially guides how the PA organizes, trains, and employs its forces to defend the country’s territory, people, and strategic assets.
A total of 4,222 personnel were taking part in the unilateral exercise, with operations spread across training areas in Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte.
The drills are not only a measure of firepower but also of coordination between regular units and reservists, Nafarrete noted.
By combining traditional firepower with new technology, Nafarrete said the Army aims to ensure that its forces remain capable of defending strategic areas against diverse threats.

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