PH, US, Japan, Canada, Australia navies hold live-fire drills in WPS
MANILA, Philippines — Naval forces from the Philippines, the United States, Japan, Canada and Australia conducted a live-fire gunnery exercise on April 26 as part of the sea phase of Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) drills, the Philippine Navy said on Thursday.
A seven-ship task group took part in the Gunnery Exercise (Gunnex), which tested coordinated firing and tactical maneuvering among participating navies against simulated surface threats, according to a Philippine Navy statement.
The exercise involved the use of naval guns, close-in weapon systems and .50-caliber machine guns across multiple platforms operating simultaneously.
The Navy said the drill was designed to assess interoperability, coordination and communication procedures among allied forces operating in a shared maritime environment.
“Beyond the live-fire evolution, the task group practiced advanced tactical maneuvering and communication protocols,” the Navy said in a statement.
Participating vessels included the Philippine Navy frigates BRP Antonio Luna and BRP Miguel Malvar; the US amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland; the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Midgett; the Japanese destroyer JS Ikazuchi; the Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown; and the Australian frigate HMAS Toowoomba.
The Philippine Navy said the exercise formed part of broader multinational maritime operations under Balikatan 41-2026, which included combined sea maneuvers among partner forces.
The Navy said the activity underscored expanding interoperability among allied navies operating in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in conducting coordinated maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea.
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Balikatan is the Philippines’ largest annual joint military exercise with allied forces and has expanded in recent years to include more complex live-fire drills and broader multinational participation.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. earlier said this year’s iteration of the drills is the largest in terms of complexity and scope.
The exercise comes as the Philippines and the United States mark the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty this year, which remains the foundation of their defense alliance.
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About 17,000 troops are participating in this year’s Balikatan exercises, which include multiple training activities across the country.
The drills, which began April 20, are expected to conclude May 8. /das
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