PH, US, Australia hold 4-day joint maritime drills in WPS

Militaries from the Philippines, the United States, and Australia conducted a four-day joint maritime exercise in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from April 9 to 12, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Monday. 

In a statement, AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) marked the second exercise this year involving the three nations and the 16th overall.

The AFP deployed the Philippine Navy’s BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS20) and Philippine Air Force’s FA-50 fighter jets, A-29B Super Tucano, C-208B aircraft, and a Sokol search-and-rescue helicopter. The Philippine Coast Guard also participated with BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV 9702).

The Australian Defence Force sent HMAS Toowoomba (FFH156), supported by an MH-60R helicopter and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Meanwhile, the United States contributed USS Ashland (LSD-48).

Exercise highlights

The joint drills included a series of maritime operations: 

• replenishment-at-sea approaches, 
• rendezvous procedures
• communications exercises
• maritime domain awareness activities
• tactical maneuvering exercises
• flyby drills
• photo exercises
• night operations.
• finish exercise (FINEX) declaration

The activity featured the transport of four Naval Combat Engineering Brigade equipment assets, which includes a payloader, a telescopic crane, and two concrete mixers, from Manila Bay to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan aboard USS Ashland.

This was an actual conduct of logistics interoperability between the AFP and USINDOPACOM, according to the Philippine military.

“The AFP reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with like-minded nations to ensure maritime security, protect national interests, and contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” the AFP said. — RSJ, GMA News