First in 7 years: PH to send frigate for Australian navy biggest drills

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy will deploy this year one of its Miguel Malvar-class frigates to participate in Australia’s largest maritime exercise, its spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said on Friday.

The deployment of either BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Diego Silang for the biennial Exercise Kakadu is the first time in more than seven years.

These guided-missile frigates with 3,200-ton displacement and equipped with antiship, antisubmarine, and anti-aircraft capabilities.

READ: PH Navy welcomes future BRP Diego Silang in Subic

“[A] Miguel Malvar-class frigate will be deployed for Kakadu,” Martinez told Inquirer in a text message.

READ: PH skips Australia-led joint drills

The Kakadu exercise is among the matters discussed during the Philippine Navy’s bilateral engagement with the Royal Australian Navy at Makati City on Wednesday Jan. 28.

“Key discussions focused on training and exercises to ensure continued interoperability and operational readiness,” the Navy said in a statement on Friday.

According to the Navy, the Philippine Fleet commander  will also attend the Fleet Commanders’ Conference the Kakadu drills in Sydney, Australia on March 20.

The Navy last deployed its warship for Kakadu in Aug. 2018, sending its Gregorio del Pilar-class patrol ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz along with a 300-member contingent. 

The Navy was supposed to join the Kakadu drills in Sept. 2024, but it called off the deployment of Jose Rizal-class guided-missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna to prioritize maritime patrols, including in West Philippine Sea, former Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr. had said.

Such an engagement of both nations show “commitment for readiness and interoperability on any eventuality in the Indo-Pacific as China aggressively expands its maritime reach”, Chester Cabalza, president of Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, said in a message to Inquirer.

Australia also joined the country in patrolling the West Philippine Sea at least six times amid the Chinese presence there, based on its sweeping sovereignty claim which a landmark 2016 Arbitral Award effectively dismissed.

Both countries have a status of a visiting forces agreement, which enables their armed forces to conduct military drills on each other’s soil. /jpv /gsg