PH, US, Japan, Canada hold counter-landing live fire drill in Ilocos Norte

Philippine and allied forces showcased coordinated firepower and coastal defense capabilities during a counter-landing live fire drill Monday in Ilocos Norte as part of the Balikatan Exercise.

In a statement Tuesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the activity was conducted at the La Paz Sand Dunes in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

The United States Armed Forces, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and Canadian Armed Forces joined the AFP and simulated a response to a hostile amphibious force attempting to breach the country's coastline.

In a coordinated counter-landing operation, the combined forces executed synchronized maneuvers aimed at neutralizing the simulated threat before it could establish a foothold.

The exercise featured a range of ground and air assets from the AFP, including Sabrah light tanks, ASCOD Command Post Vehicles equipped with 25mm guns, armored mortar carriers, and 105mm artillery systems.

The AFP also deployed air support including A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, AW109 helicopters, and Hermes unmanned aerial systems.

US forces bolstered the drills with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, F-16 fighter jets, and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

Japanese forces' participation underscored growing defense ties among regional partners, the AFP said.

Canadian troops supported a mass casualty exercise and conducted defensive operations at Culili Point in Ilocos Norte using heavy machine guns, small arms, and rockets, the AFP added.

"This Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise demonstrates our growing capability to defend our shores through a multi-layered, joint and combined approach—integrating land, sea, and air assets to decisively destroy threats before they reach our coastline," Balikatan spokesperson for the Philippines Colonel Dennis Hernandez said. — VDV, GMA News