Modern weapon systems showcased in Balikatan drills

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May 5, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States military will use as target the decommissioned World War II corvette Miguel Malvar to be sunk during the maritime strike exercise under Balikatan exercises in San Antonio, Zambales today.

Balikatan spokesperson Brig. Gen. Michael Logico said the Philippine Navy’s warship would be sunk and engaged by the AFP and US military approximately 30 to 40 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales in the West Philippine Sea.

The exercise will feature modern weapon systems from the AFP and the US.

“We will be engaging it using our combined and joint assets. We will be using our FA-50s (fighter aircraft) and our A-29 Super Tucanos. We will fire our Spike NLOS (non-line of sight) missile from our fast attack interdiction craft, as well as our C-STAR (anti-ship cruise missile) from Antonio Luna,” Logico added.

The US, he said, will be using its air assets, bombers, F-16 and F-18 fighter jets.

Under Balikatan, Pangasinan was the first ship sunk in 2023, followed by retired naval oil tanker Lake Caliraya during last year’s exercises.

The AFP is still awaiting confirmation if President Marcos will personally attend the event.

Logico did not confirm or deny when asked if the “ship killer” NMESIS or Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System would also be fired during the maritime strike drills.

The US deployed its anti-ship missile NMESIS during the ongoing Balikatan exercise in Luzon.

The AFP announced on April 27 the deployment of NMESIS that took part in the Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations-North events, an activity held in Batanes where armed forces practice retaking an island from an enemy force.

Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado, chief of the Balikatan 2025 Combined Joint Information Bureau, said the NMESIS is a land-based missile system “designed to target and deter hostile naval forces, enhances maritime domain awareness and strengthens the defensive posture of the Philippines and the US in securing key maritime areas.”

Counter-landing

On Saturday, the AFP and the US Armed Forces staged a counter-landing and live-fire exercise in Cagayan province, demonstrating synchronized firepower and rapid response capabilities to deter attempts to land along the country’s coastline.

“This live-fire drill demonstrated the precision and combat readiness of allied forces and reinforced their shared resolve to protect strategic coastal areas and uphold maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region,” Salgado said.

The drill simulation highlighted the detection of an Amphibious Task Group representing a threat force attempting to land along the northern coastline. In rapid response, joint Philippine-US forces executed a coordinated counter-landing operation to prevent them from establishing a foothold in the area, demonstrating combined strength and seamless interoperability.

The Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps mobilized a robust array of assets, including Sabrah battle tanks, Light Armored Vehicles, ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzers and additional firepower from 105mm howitzers. Advanced targeting systems such as the Smart Shooter and infantry maneuver elements further amplified the defensive response.

US forces also delivered overwhelming air and ground support. Key assets included AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, F-16 aircraft, and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft conducting maritime surveillance and reconnaissance. They also provided real-time targeting through cutting-edge cuing and sensing systems, with direct small arms support.

Participating units included the Philippine Marine Corps, Philippine Army, Special Operations Command, Marine Reservists and the Philippine Air Force, working alongside US counterparts.