April 26, 2023
Philippine and US troops simulate the detection, identification, targeting and sinking of a target ship using ground and air-based systems in San Antonio, Zambales as part of the largest Balikatan exercises to date.
"During the exercise, US and Philippine weapons platforms delivered coordinated fires on a target ship, a decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette towed into Philippine territorial waters. Bilateral weapons systems consisted of US and Philippine artillery, High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Avenger air defense systems, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, Philippine Air Force FA-50 Golden Eagle fighter-attack aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcons, US Marine F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, and a US Air Force Special Operations Command AC-130 Spectre gunship," the Armed Forces of the Philippines says in a release.
April 13, 2023
The ongoing Balikatan exercises 38-23 at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base (CERAB) in Crow Valley in Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac, is spawning tourism in the province.
It is a big help for small businesses and to the livelihood of the residents after they were allowed to set up their food, souvenir, and barber stalls near the area, Maj. Anthony Pueblas, armed forces Civil Relations Group 1 commander, beamed.
The CERAB in Capas, Tarlac, is among the sites for live fire training for Balikatan Exercise 38-23 in Northern Luzon Command Joint Operational Area. — The STAR/Artemio Dumlao
April 11, 2023
At least one student activist — Stand UP chairperson Gabriel Magtubay — was arrested by police after a lightning protest near the US Embassy on Tuesday, the day of opening ceremonies for the Balikatan exercises, according to Kalasag, a campus publication at UP Diliman.
Follow this thread for updates on the Philippines-US Balikatan military drills. This year's exercises are said to be the biggest ever.