Balikatan 2025 concludes joint Philippines-US maritime drills

MANILA, Philippines— Philippine and US forces concluded yesterday their joint drills at sea under the Balikatan exercises, which featured joint sail, medical evacuation and live fire events.

Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado, chief of the Balikatan 2025 Combined Joint Information Bureau, said the Philippine Navy, the US Navy, US Coast Guard and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) capped six days of Multilateral Maritime Event in the West Philippine Sea, stretching from the waters of Zambales in the vicinity of Subic Bay to the Northern Luzon Command Joint Operational Area.

Overall Balikatan ends on May 9.

During the drills, Salgado said participating forces engaged in various maritime activities including communications drills, division tactics, photo exercises, replenishment at sea, cross-deck landing qualifications, maritime search and rescue operations and gunnery exercises.

Key naval and air assets deployed during the exercise included the Philippine Navy’s BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Apolinario Mabini, Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Gabriela Silang, US Navy’s USS Savannah and USS Comstock and JMSDF’s JS Yahagi.

A Philippine Navy AW109 helicopter, a US Navy MH-60R Seahawk (Stinger 44) and a JMSDF SH-60K (Super Auk26) also took part in the integrated air-sea operations.

Salgado said the drills are a reaffirmation of participating militaries’ shared vision for a secure, stable and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific.

Through Balikatan, participating militaries were able to strengthen their collective readiness, enhance operational coordination and demonstrate a united front in the face of evolving regional maritime challenges, he added.

On Monday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the US Marine Corps and the Australian Defense Force also showcased their combined strength and operational synergy during a large-scale counter-landing and live fire exercise in Kampung Ulay, Rizal, Palawan.

The exercise opened with a maritime interdiction scenario, where Philippine Navy assets – including Multi-Purpose Attack Craft and Fast Attack Interdiction Craft – swiftly engaged and neutralized a simulated seaborne intrusion.

Seamless

Salgado said the operation demonstrated seamless coordination between naval and ground forces, which then transitioned to an integrated coastal live fire mission.

According to the military, the firepower showcased during the exercise demonstrated a diverse range of military capabilities, with the Philippine Marines deploying Howitzers to initiate synchronized fire mission.

The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) was utilized to deliver rapid and precise strikes.

Supporting fire was provided using .50-caliber machine guns and M16 rifles, contributing to the overall firepower and coordination on the battlefield.

Salgado said the drill culminated with a precision strike from the HIMARS, highlighting the allied forces’ capability to deliver fast, accurate and decisive responses to amphibious threats – an essential element of regional deterrence.

Troops from the JMSDF observed the exercise, as part of efforts to enhance multilateral security cooperation and joint training initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region.