PH, US hold combat, search, rescue drill in Zambales

Philippine and United States troops conducted a combat, search, and rescue (CSAR) drill off Iba, Zambales as part of this year’s Balikatan Exercise, the training’s combined joint information bureau said on Tuesday.

“The 505th Search and Rescue Group (SRG), alongside US counterparts, executed realistic CSAR missions, simulating downed aircrew recovery in hostile maritime conditions,” said the Combined Joint Information Bureau of Balikatan 2025.

During the drill, Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel used Bell 205A and Super Huey helicopters to perform helocast insertions and hoist extractions with aerial security.

A US C-130J located the survivor and deployed a survival kit. Meanwhile, a US Marine Corps V-22 Osprey also conducted a parallel CSAR operation.

The Bell 205A conducting hoist operations to safely recover a simulated survivor during the Combat Search and Rescue operations in line with Exercise Balikatan 40-2025.

For the post-recovery part, PAF’s S7 aeromedical team gave a simulated in-flight treatment before transferring the patient to ground medical personnel at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

“These complex drills sharpened both nations' readiness for life-saving missions in contested environments and the vital role of the 505th SRG in national and allied operations,” said the Combined Joint Information Bureau.

Balikatan, an annual exercise between Manila and Washington, started on April 21 with around 17,000 troops expected to join.

For this year’s Balikatan, the Philippine and US troops are engaging in a full battle exercise. —VAL, GMA Integrated News