Around 150 members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) are taking part in the 40th iteration of the largest bilateral exercise conducted between the Philippines and the United States. Exercise Balikatan is an annual training exercise conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States military forces, aimed at maintaining a high level of military readiness to enhance the nations’ bilateral response capabilities.
Australia’s participation provides a key training opportunity for deployed personnel and supporting defence cooperation between all participating nations. Exercise Balikatan 2025 includes more than 16,000 personnel from the Philippines, United States and Australia, as well as three nations involved in the AFP-hosted international observer program.
Australia’s contribution consists of land forces, medics, tactical air force components and, command and support personnel. During Balikatan 2025, personnel will take part in a range of scenarios in maritime security, air and missile defence, offensive missile strikes, cyber defence, information warfare and humanitarian assistance. This is the 40th iteration of Exercise Balikatan with the ADF having been a full participant since 2014.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, RAN, said: “The Philippines is one of our closest partners and friends, and under our strategic partnership, our defence relationship continues to deepen. Balikatan 2025 highlights the United States and Philippines’ commitment to their bilateral partnership as well as interoperability with other partner nations. Australia’s participation demonstrates our commitment to security and stability, and engagement with the Indo-Pacific region.”
MRF-D 25.3 surges forward for Balikatan
Following the successful completion of Marine Exercise 25 in Mindanao, the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) seamlessly repositioned it’s ground combat element (GCE) forces from Mindanao to Palawan, Philippines, as a show of allied and partner commitment to regional security and building maritime domain awareness in support of Exercise Balikatan 25.
In addition to the GCE, the MRF-D MAGTF surged a command and logistics element from Darwin to the Philippines to command-and-control (C2) and support GCE training. This year is the 40th iteration of Exercise Balikatan, the largest annual bilateral training exercise between the U.S. and the Philippines, from April 21 to May 9. Building on the complexities and achievements of past iterations, this year’s exercise will demonstrate the progress in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) modernisation efforts and further build on the U.S.-Philippine alliance, rooted in the Mutual Defense Treaty, by enhancing military interoperability and readiness.
“Our participation in Balikatan alongside our Philippine and Australian counterparts reflects the very essence of why MRF-D exists—to be forward, integrated and ready as a stand-in force,” said Col. Jason C. Armas, commanding officer of the MRF-D 25.3 MAGTF. “Together, we’re sharpening our ability to respond to crises, strengthen regional partnerships and uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The arrival of the MRF-D 25.3 MAGTF—alongside their counterparts from the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR), Australian Defence Force (ADF) and 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBDE), Philippine Marine Corps (PMC)—sets the stage for a series of complex and integrated operations focused on defending key maritime terrain and in support of the Philippine Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept.
The MRF-D MAGTF is set to participate in two major Combined Joint All Domain Operations events to demonstrate the full range of multinational military operations in realistic training scenarios. The first event with MRF-D’s GCE is a counter-landing live-fire exercise in Rizal, Palawan, where MRF-D, Australian and Philippine forces will conduct synchronized air and ground-based fires against a simulated adversary. The operation will feature land-based fires utilizing Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles, machine guns and crew served weapons alongside the Australian 5/7 RAR anti-tank fires, Philippine 105 mm howitzer artillery and Philippine Air Force Super Tucano and FA-50 ordnance. The U.S. Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force will also conduct a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire in a display of joint and combined fires coordination.
“This training strengthens not just our interoperability, but our trust in each other as regional security partners,” said Commander Australian Contingent, LTCOL Adrian Walker. “This year our contribution includes land forces, mostly drawn from Darwin’s 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, as well as medics, engineers, tactical air force components and command and support personnel.” Walker continues, emphasising, “our forces will benefit immensely from operating with our Philippine and U.S. partners in diverse environments, preparing us to meet real-world challenges together.”
In Southern Palawan, Australian and Philippine forces will conduct aerial and amphibious Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations to practice securing key terrain in Southern Palawan in a simulated contested environment. MRF-D MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363 will provide U.S., Australian and Philippine forces trilateral aerial insertion to secure maritime key terrain while Philippine forces conduct a simultaneous amphibious raid with their marine battalion landing teams, demonstrating a unified capability to project force, secure vital terrain and maintain regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. Balikatan continues to highlight the strength of allied and partner cooperation Indo-Pacific region, enhancing readiness and deterring potential aggression.
“Balikatan is more than just a military exercise—it is a reaffirmation of our enduring alliance and shared commitment to regional stability,” said Brig. Gen. Antonio Mangoroban, commanding general of 3MBDE, PMC. “Through combined operations and shared learning, we enhance our collective readiness to protect our people, our sovereignty and our region.”
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