The Manila Times
(UPDATE) THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), together with the United States Armed Forces, Australian Defense Force and New Zealand Defense Force, simulated coastline defense against enemy amphibious landings, the military said in a statement on Tuesday. Led by the Philippine Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Brigade, the activity called Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise (CLLFX-West) was held at the Apurawan Beach Landing Site in Aborlan, Palawan, as part of Exercise Balikatan 41–2026. “The exercise simulated a maritime threat involving an enemy amphibious landing along the coastline, showcasing combined forces’ capability to detect, disrupt and deny hostile elements from establishing a beachhead,” the AFP said. “The activity demonstrated strong coordination and interoperability among participating forces in a complex littoral environment,” the AFP said. The exercise highlighted a layered, multi-domain defense employing synchronized air, land and indirect fire assets. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) deployed its FA-50 fighter jets for air interdiction while US forces provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) capabilities. Ground forces executed mid- to close-range engagements using artillery, mortars, light armored vehicles, anti-armor systems, heavy machine guns and infantry weapons, supported by precision strikes and reconnaissance. Simultaneously, a simulated Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation was conducted at Sitio Bubusawin and Sitio Long Point, alongside a community outreach activity in coordination with the local government of Aborlan and Barangay Apurawan, underscoring the AFP’s role in both defense and humanitarian operations. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP chief of staff, witnessed the live-fire exercise together with Vice Adm. Alan Javier, commander of Western Command. Anti-drone drills The PAF FA50 fighter jets, which were earlier confirmed to be participating in the anti-drone drills in San Antonio, Zambales, were a no-show at the exercise. At the Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, San Antonio, Zambales, the PAF and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) held a four-day Integrated Air and Missile Defense demonstration from April 26 to 29 showcasing the combined capabilities of the two militaries to detect and intercept hostile aerial threats such as drones, helicopters and low-lying fixed wing aircraft. In the exercise, the USMC brought in powerful air defense capabilities such as the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, Vampire Laser System and the Avenger Air Defense System all designed to knock down threats in the airspace. The FA50s participated in the counter-landing live-fire drills held on the beaches of Aporawan, Palawan, on April 27 but were not seen in the Zambales airspace. “Due to the safety protocols, live aircraft will not be used since we are dealing with a live missile that shoots in the air,” Maj. Richmond Jan Cayabyab, battery commander of the Philippine Air Force’s Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby (Spyder) air defense system, told reporters covering the anti-drone war games. Col. Xerxes Trinidad, AFP Public Affairs chief, said that in an air defense or air missile defense scenario, safety protocols must be observed.
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