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Ph, US anti-submarine, coastal defense drills
By J.Lo
“Focusing on anti-submarine warfare and joint patrol operations, exercise highlights both nations’ commitment to enhancing interoperability and collective defense capabilities in maritime security,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said it was show of force and test of interoperability by militaries of the Philippines, United States and other major allies, kicked off their joint maneuvers in different parts of the country both at sea and on land.
In West Philippine Sea, Philippine Navy and US Navy conducted anti-submarine and night patrol exercises as part of their Sama-Sama (together) military drills. Japan, Australia, Canada and France will later join exercise.
Naval maneuver took place against backdrop of increasing number of Chinese vessels including warships in West Philippine Sea.
Based on monitoring by Philippine Navy, Chinese vessels in Philippine waters totaled 34 from Oct. 7 to 13, up from 28 the previous week.
In Pili, Camarines Norte and in other parts of Bicol Region, Filipino and Australian soldiers held war drills as part of second leg of this year’s Exercise Kasangga 2024.
Joint exercise, involving 216 Philippine Army personnel and 50 Australian soldiers, will run until Nov. 8.
Western Mindanao Command of AFP, meanwhile, spearhead two-week capability enhancement drill dubbed as Joint, Combined and Inter-Agency Maritime Security Training Exercise.
Trinidad said launch of Sama-Sama advanced maritime drills in West Philippine Sea was success.
Participating in naval exercise were Philippine Navy’s guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal and US Navy destroyer USS Howard.
Activities , he said, included Combined Anti-Submarine Exercise (CASEX) involving Torpedo Exercises using Expandable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target.
He noted both navies were able to hone their anti-submarine warfare techniques in realistic and controlled environment.
In addition to CASEX, both navies also conducted Joint and Combined Patrol (Night Steaming in Company), simulating real-world scenarios of patrolling contested waters.
“Drill aimed to enhance coordination between participating units in nighttime operational setting, improving response capabilities in crisis situations,” he explained.
Trinidad said Philippine and US naval forces also executed Search and Rescue Exercises and Shipboard Casualty Care drills, “further demonstrating their readiness to respond to both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges.”
Trinidad said ongoing Sea Phase of Sama-Sama 2024 highlighted shared objective of both Philippines and US to address maritime security challenges through cooperation and joint operations.
“These activities not only focused on combat readiness but also on humanitarian assistance and disaster response, integral aspects of modern naval operations,” he stressed.
He emphasized participation later of Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and other allied navies would be another demonstration of commitment of Philippines and its allies to peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region.
Trinidad said Sama-Sama 2024, now on its seventh iteration, “represents continuing evolution of bilateral maritime exercises, fostering stronger relationships among participating forces and enhancing overall regional security capabilities.”
In Camarines Norte, Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said soldiers of 9th Infantry Division based in Camp Elias Angeles made up Philippine contingent in Exercise Kasangga 2024 with Australian troops.
Dema-ala said combined exercise covers critical areas of military operations such as urban operations, close combat techniques, combat shooting and tactical casualty care.
Soldiers will also undergo training in explosive assault breaching, cybersecurity operations, mortar gunnery with forward observers and Civil-Military Operations exchanges, he said.
Earlier, from May to June, first leg of joint training exercises was held in Gamu, Isabela involving at least 100 Filipino soldiers from 86th Infantry Battalion of 5th Infantry Division and 50 troops from Australian Army.
First leg of exercises covered reconnaissance, mortar, drone operations, logistics, signal operations, jungle and urban warfare, tactical combat casualty care and breaching operations.
In Zamboanga City, Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. William Gonzalez said JCIMSTX seeks to enhance and synergize maritime security and operation readiness through collaboration among different military security units of AFP, their foreign counterparts and relevant law enforcement agencies within operation area of his command.
Philippine Navy denounced Chinese for their “continued illegal presence in West Philippine Sea” that it said “blatantly disregards 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling and violates our sovereignty and sovereign rights.”
“This also highlights need to continue modernizing defense and security capabilities of AFP.,,we in AFP remain committed to upholding international law and defending integrity of our national territory,” the Navy said in statement.
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