Australia and the Philippines Launch the Largest Joint Military Exercises

Australian and Philippine forces have launched their largest joint military exercise near the disputed waters of the South China Sea – Exercise Alon 25.

This was reported by the Australian Department of Defence.

The members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will train on the islands of Palawan and Luzon from August 15th to 29th.

In total, more than 3,600 troops are participating in Exercise Alon 25, most of them from Australia and the Philippines. Small contingents of the Royal Canadian Navy and a rotational group of the U.S. Marine Corps are also taking part in the exercise.

The Australian Armed Forces will deploy about 1,600 troops. In particular, the Army’s battlegroup based on the 8/9th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, including an infantry battalion of about 390 people, a mechanized platoon with five ASLAVlight armored vehicles and an artillery battery with two M777 howitzers.

The naval component will be represented by the Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane with an onboard MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. The air component will be represented by F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and C-130J Hercules aircraft and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. RAAF’s KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and C-17A Globemaster III aircraft will provide movement of personnel, aircraft and equipment between Australia and the Philippines.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines will deploy about 1,525 military personnel. In particular, units from the 7th Infantry Division, Armored Division, Marines and Special Forces Group.

The naval component will be represented by the Jose Rizal class frigate. The aviation component will include FA-50PH aircraft, A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft and S-70i Black Hawk, T-129 ATAK and AW109 helicopters.

Canada will be represented by the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ville de Québec with a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter and about 180 military personnel. The United States will be represented by a tactical group from the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin grouping of about 350 servicemen and an MV-22B Osprey convertible aircraft.

Exercise Alon 25 will include live-fire exercises at military ranges and in maritime areas. Participating countries will also conduct amphibious landings and naval maneuvers.

Against the backdrop of tensions with China and constant clashes in the South China Sea, the Philippines is trying to strengthen its Armed Forces and diversify military cooperation with countries other than its traditional ally, the United States.

At the same time, cooperation is being established not only with immediate neighbors in the region, such as Japan and Vietnam, but also with more distant ones, such as Australia and New Zealand, as well as with European countries such as Germany and Lithuania.