“Don’t mess with us.” This was the stern warning given by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Armed Forces to provocateurs in the Indo-Pacific region as they officially wrapped up the 40th edition of the Balikatan Exercises—their largest annual joint military...
The former BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19), which was supposed to be sunk as part of a Balikatan missile exercise, submerged while being positioned off the coast of San Antonio, Zambales on Monday morning, May 5. No gunfire was heard nor missile was fired but the BRP Miguel Malvar descended to the bottom...
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces carried out a counter-landing and live-fire exercise in Cagayan on Saturday, May 3, showcasing its coordinated firepower and rapid response capabilities aimed at deterring a seaborne invasion. The simulation, which was part of...
Allied vessels USS Savannah (LCS-28) from the US Navy, FFM-5 JS Yahagi from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) from Philippine Navy, USN's USS Comstock (LSD-45), PN's BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS36), and BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301) from the Philippine Coast Guard, sail...
Participating forces carry out casualty evacuation procedures at sea, honing life-saving skills during the Multilateral Maritime Event of Exercise Balikatan off the coast of Luna, La Union on April 28, 2025. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines) The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on...
US Marines haul the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) off to a US C-130 aircraft during Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations - North, part of Exercise Balikatan 40-2025 on April 26, 2025. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines) The highly anticipated participation of...
Philippine Navy personnel aboard BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) operate a .50 caliber gun during a surface target shoot as part of the Balikatan Exercises' Gunnery Exercise (Multilateral Maritime Event) in San Felipe, Zambales on April 25, 2025. (Photo: AFP) The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said...
Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong (CV-17) is detected by the Philippine Navy (PN) about 2.23 nautical miles southwest of Babuyan Island on April 22, 2025. (Photo: PN) The Philippine Navy (PN) said that the Chinese aircraft carrier detected within the country’s archipelagic waters was accompanied...
An Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel receives hands-on instructions from his US counterparts on the FIM-92 Stinger missile system, learning about its components, proper handling, and tactical applications in air defense operations during a subject matter expert exchange on the use of...
A NMESIS launcher deploys into position onboard Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands for a live fire exercise as part of Large Scale Exercise (LSE) 2021 in Kekaha, Hawaii on Aug. 16, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Major Nick Mannweiler) As part of this year’s Balikatan...
China on Tuesday, April 22, lambasted the Philippines and United States for the start of its military drills in the contested South China Sea, calling the three-week joint exercises as “detrimental” to regional stability and economic growth. AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. (left) unfurls...
AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. (left) unfurls the Balikatan Exercise flag during a kick-off ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on April 21, 2025 with Maj. Gen. Francisco Lorenzo (middle), commander of AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC) and Philippines Exercise...
