The skies over Laur, Nueva Ecija were lit up by the thunderous blasts of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during a live fire exercise, part of the Salaknib 2024 Phase 2 joint training between the US and Philippine armies.

A total of 96 Philippine and US Army troops participated in the live fire exercise. 

The Philippine Army troops operated the HIMARS themselves for the first time, and hit targets successfully located between 10 and 11 kilometers away.

"Nagpapasalamat ang army regiments, especially ang ating Philippine army, na this time ang ating mga tropa [na] mismo ang nag-operate ng system na pagma-may-ari ng Amerika," Colonel Leo Catipay, Commandant of the Artillery Training School of the Philippine Army, said.

The US Army was impressed by the Philippine troops' proficiency with the advanced military equipment. 

According to the US Army, HIMARS can strike targets accurately up to 300 kilometers away.

"Today, we shot three rockets to demonstrate the capabilities of the training environment," Captain Garret Kohnke, Battery Commander of the US Army, said.

Despite learning to use HIMARS, the Philippines does not yet have its own system. 

However, the Philippine Army plans to acquire HIMARS under its Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP), to enhance the country's territorial defense against terrorism.

"As part of the Horizon Project, part ‘yung pag-procure. isa ang himars sa pinagpipilian," Catipay said.

The Salaknib 2024 training will continue until September 22.