Philippine, US and Australian forces show off combined fire capabilities and destroy ship during Balikatan training event > US Indo-Pacific Command > 2015

Philippine, U.S. and Australian forces integrated land, sea and air platforms to simultaneously detect, target, attack and destroy a decommissioned ship off the western coast of Northern Luzon.

The live-fire event demonstrated the capability of the force’s combined fire networks, joint and combined interoperability, and the high state of readiness between the US and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

During the morning, Philippine and US platforms fired several types of munitions, including the C-Star (SSM-700K), a Spike NLOS missile, GBU-38 joint direct attack munitions and 2.75 inch Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System missiles . among other things. Through virtual and constructive fires, Medium Range Capability, or MRC, was added to the shooting options in the scenario.

By integrating as many combined detection and firing platforms as possible, the aim of the maritime attack exercise was to test and validate the combined fire networks. To maximize training value, the goal was to keep the target vessel afloat for as long as possible before eventually sinking.

“We know the lethality and ability of our munitions to sink maritime targets,” said U.S. Marine Douglas Krugman, director of the U.S. Combined Coordination Center. “This exercise was about the collective capability of our combined fire networks and increasing interoperability to detect and shoot down targets from a variety of Philippine, U.S. and Australian land, sea and air platforms.”

Sensing platforms, such as the TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar and the Australian E-7 Wedgetail, relayed data to firing units who then launched munitions at the target. Integrating sensor networks was a key part of the exercise and enabled coordinated attacks from multiple platforms.

During the maritime attack, the US and AFP led the execution from the Combined Coordination Center at Camp Aguinaldo. The CCC is responsible for integrating combined command and control functions between the joint U.S. and Philippine task forces conducting the training. The establishment of the CCC during this year’s Balikatan is an additional step in the continued modernization of the exercise and the growing complexity of the training.

By integrating systems and processes from all domains within the combined and joint force, the three countries have increased their interoperability and mutual defense capabilities, both in the Philippines and in support of their allies and partners in the region.

Participating units included: the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) of the Philippine Navy; the Philippine Air Force’s 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which flies the FA-50; the US Air Force’s 13th Fighter Squadron, flying F-16 Fighting Falcons; Royal Australian Air Force No. 2 Squadron flying the E-7 Wedgetail; Marine Air Control Squadron-4, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment with a TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar; Marine Air Control Group 38; 16th Special Operations Squadron, 27th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, flying the AC-130J Ghostrider, and US Navy VP-10 flying the P-8A Poseidon.

Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Army designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust and cooperation built on decades of shared experiences. This year’s exercise marks the 39th edition of the annual event, which showcases the rock-solid alliance and enduring friendship between the two nations. About 16,000 Philippine and American military personnel are participating.