By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – Philippine Army (PA) units that participated in this year’s “Balikatan” exercises enhanced their joint and combined operations capabilities with the assistance and support of their US counterparts.
Joint and combined operations are the means of conducting force projections against a threat.
“Participating PA units significantly enhanced its joint and combined operations (capabilities) particularly in maritime security, amphibious operations, air and missile defense, and cyber defense,” PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a message to the Philippine News Agency Wednesday.
The Army’s interoperability with allied forces was “deepened” especially in the use of advanced defense systems and integrated air-sea-land assets, Dema-ala said. “The exercise strengthened our command and control systems through integrated operations in live, virtual, and constructive environments.”
The annual drills, Dema-ala said, provided critical exposure to emerging defense technologies and best practices, enabling the troops to operate alongside and learn from allied militaries in real-time scenarios.
Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. touted this year’s exercises between Filipino and American troops as exemplary.
The drills started April 21 and ended May 9.
Brawner said the most valuable outcome of the exercise has “been the enhanced mutual trust, deeper understanding, and renewed commitment to shared security goals” between the participating nations. (PNA)
