US Army Tests Fresh Drones, 3D Printers at ‘Balikatan’ Drill in the Philippines

US Army tests fresh drones, 3D printers at ‘Balikatan’ drill in the Philippines

FORT MAGSAYAY, Philippines — As an American reconnaissance drone hummed overhead, soldiers of the U.S. and Philippine armies stormed forward through the jungle terrain, laying down suppressive fire on enemy positions.Finishing off the foe’s stubborn resistance, a Kestrel first-person-view (FPV) drone carrying an explosive payload slammed into the enemy bunker. Afterwards, sweating profusely in the 97ºF heat, the Americans and Filipinos secured t…

Balikatan drill highlights shift toward tech-driven warfare in the Philippines

Balikatan, the annual joint training between the United States and the Philippines, drew about 17,000 troops from seven nations this year.

Philippines, US lead 11 international vessels in enhanced maritime drills in West PH Sea for 'Balikatan'

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, United States and other allied forces deployed 11 vessels in complex naval drills as part of the ongoing Multinational Maritime Event (MME). The Japan Self-Defense Force, Australian Defense Force and the Canadian Armed Forces participated in the drills honing skills to detect and intercept threats from the sea and from the air, which can be done through interoperability of various capabilities like radar se…

Warships from 5 navies hold maritime drills in West Philippine Sea

The Philippines, United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada deployed 11 warships for a multinational maritime exercise in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as part of the Balikatan Exercises, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Thursday.

West PH Sea: Philippines, allies deploy 11 vessels for Balikatan drills

Photo: Participating vessels sail in a coordinated Maritime Cooperative Activity formation during the Multinational Maritime Event under Exercise Balikatan 41-2026 on April 28 in the West Philippine Sea. (Photo by PO3 Gonzales PN / PAOAFP) MANILA, Philippines — Philippine and like-minded forces deployed 11 vessels for joint maritime drills in the West Philippine Sea from April 20 to May 1 as part of this year’s Balikatan (“shoulder-to-shoulder”)…

AFP, four allied countries flex muscles in West PH Sea for Balikatan 2026

Eleven vessels from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and allied countries led by the United States deployed 11 vessels for military exercises in the West Philippine Sea.The war games, under the Exercise Balikatan 41-2026, was aimed at further improving interoperability among five of the participating countries that also include Japan, Canada and Australia.The military exercises, however, are seen as a show of force amid the aggressive and fre…