Live fire drills set in Palawan, Ilocos Norte for 2026 Balikatan

Live fire exercises will be conducted in Palawan and Ilocos Norte as part of the 41st iteration of the annual Philippines–United States Balikatan Exercises, military officials said Tuesday.

“For the Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise West, that will be conducted on April 27 in Aporawan, Palawan,” said Major Al Anthony Pueblas of the Philippine Combined Joint Information Bureau (CJIB) in a press briefing.

“The Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise North will be conducted in the La Paz Sand Dunes on May 4, 2026. This is one of the distinguished visitors’ events,” he added.

This year’s Balikatan will involve more than 17,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and partner countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, and New Zealand.

Pueblas said the exercises will run from April 20 to May 8 across multiple joint operational areas, including Northern Luzon, Western Command, Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Eastern Mindanao.

Other key activities include:

• Multinational maritime exercises in Northern Luzon from April 23 to May 1
• Integrated air and missile defense drills in Subic, Zambales from April 26 to 29
• Joint maritime strike event in Paoay, Ilocos Norte on May 6

Officials said the 2026 Balikatan may feature the deployment of additional or previously introduced advanced military systems.

US Balikatan spokesperson Colonel Robert Bunn said new capabilities may be introduced depending on availability and operational requirements.

“What is new for you, I cannot speak to. But as we discussed, the Tomahawk is potential, the NMESIS as you discussed, and other capabilities,” Bunn said.

“So the specifics, we will get to you as we get closer to the maritime strike and some of the other events,” he added.

Philippine Balikatan spokesperson Colonel Dennis Hernandez said Japan is expected to participate more actively this year, including the planned use of its Type 88 surface-to-ship missile during a live fire event.

He added that radar systems previously provided by Japan to the Philippines will also be used in activities such as integrated air and missile defense and maritime strike operations.—MCG, GMA News