US and Allies Sink Decommissioned Ships in Balikatan 2026 Exercise
During the concluding phase of Exercise Balikatan 2026, military forces from the United States, Philippines, Japan, and Canada sank two decommissioned Philippine Navy vessels off Northern Luzon. This two-day live-fire event, known as MARSTRIKE, utilized integrated land, sea, and air platforms to demonstrate enhanced interoperability and maritime defense capabilities. The operation validated tactical integration across multiple domains, reinforcing the participating nations' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region while improving joint readiness against potential maritime threats through complex coordinated strikes.
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US and Allies Sink Decommissioned Ships in Balikatan 2026 Exercise
During Exercise Balikatan 2026, military forces from the United States, Philippines, Japan, and Canada successfully sank two decommissioned Philippine Navy vessels off the coast of Northern Luzon. This two-day live-fire event, known as Joint Task Force Maritime Strike (MARSTRIKE), utilized integrated land, sea, and air platforms to demonstrate enhanced interoperability and maritime defense capabilities. On the first day, the BRP Quezon was targeted using a Japanese Type-88 surface-to-ship missile and U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The following day, Philippine Air Force aircraft sank the BRP Rajah Sulayman. The exercise, which concluded recently, is the largest annual joint military drill between the U.S. and the Philippines. It aims to strengthen combined readiness and underscore a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Officials highlighted the successful integration of sensors and shooters across multiple domains as a key achievement, validating tactical cooperation among the allied nations.
Marine Corps TimesUS and Allies Sink Decommissioned Ships in Balikatan 2026 Exercise
During the concluding phase of Exercise Balikatan 2026, military forces from the United States, Philippines, Japan, and Canada successfully sank two decommissioned Philippine Navy vessels off the coast of Northern Luzon. This two-day live-fire event, known as MARSTRIKE, utilized a combination of land, sea, and air platforms to demonstrate enhanced interoperability and maritime defense capabilities among the allied nations. On the first day, the BRP Quezon was targeted and sunk using a Japanese Type-88 surface-to-ship missile and US High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The following day, Philippine Air Force aircraft, including FA-50PH Fighting Eagles and A-29 Super Tucanos, sank the BRP Rajah Sulayman. The exercise involved various advanced assets, such as unmanned aerial systems and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown. Officials highlighted that the operation validated tactical integration across multiple domains, showcasing the commitment of participating countries to a free and open Indo-Pacific region while improving combined readiness for future maritime security challenges.
Defense NewsUS and Allies Sink Decommissioned Ships in Balikatan 2026 Exercise
During the concluding phase of Exercise Balikatan 2026, combined forces from the United States, Philippines, Japan, and Canada successfully sank two decommissioned Philippine Navy vessels off the coast of Northern Luzon. This two-day live-fire event, known as MARSTRIKE, utilized integrated land, sea, and air platforms to demonstrate enhanced interoperability and maritime defense capabilities. On the first day, the BRP Quezon was targeted using a Japanese Type-88 surface-to-ship missile and US High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The following day, Philippine Air Force aircraft, including FA-50PH Fighting Eagles and A-29 Super Tucanos, sank the BRP Rajah Sulayman. The exercise involved various assets such as the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown and US Marine Corps defense systems. Military leaders emphasized that the operation validated tactical integration across multiple domains and reinforced the commitment of participating nations to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. As the largest annual military drill between the US and the Philippines, Balikatan 2026 aimed to improve joint readiness and showcase allied strength through complex coordinated strikes against maritime targets.
Military TimesUS and Allies Sink Decommissioned Ships in Balikatan 2026 Exercise
During the concluding phase of Exercise Balikatan 2026, military forces from the United States, Philippines, Japan, and Canada successfully sank two decommissioned Philippine Navy vessels off the coast of Northern Luzon. This two-day live-fire event, known as MARSTRIKE, integrated land, sea, and air platforms to demonstrate enhanced interoperability and maritime defense capabilities among the allied nations. On the first day, the BRP Quezon was targeted using a Japanese Type-88 surface-to-ship missile and U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The following day, Philippine Air Force aircraft, including FA-50PH Fighting Eagles and A-29 Super Tucanos, struck the BRP Rajah Sulayman. Additional support was provided by U.S. Marine Corps systems and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown. Officials highlighted that the exercise validated tactical integration across multiple domains and reinforced the collective commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The operation served as a critical component of the largest annual bilateral military drill between the U.S. and the Philippines, showcasing the growing readiness and joint force strength of the participating allies.
Air Force TimesUS and Allies Sink Decommissioned Ships in Balikatan 2026 Exercise
During the concluding phase of Exercise Balikatan 2026, military forces from the United States, Philippines, Japan, and Canada successfully sank two decommissioned Philippine Navy vessels off the coast of Northern Luzon. This two-day live-fire event, known as MARSTRIKE, integrated land, sea, and air platforms to demonstrate enhanced interoperability and maritime defense capabilities among the allied nations. On the first day, the BRP Quezon was targeted and sunk using a Japanese Type-88 surface-to-ship missile and U.S. Army High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The following day, the BRP Rajah Sulayman was destroyed by Philippine Air Force FA-50PH Fighting Eagles and A-29 Super Tucanos. Supporting assets included the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown and various U.S. Marine Corps systems. Officials highlighted that the exercise validated tactical integration across multiple domains and reinforced the commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The operation showcased the growing synergy between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and its international partners, marking a significant milestone in annual joint military readiness efforts.
Navy TimesUS and Allies Sink Decommissioned Ships in Balikatan 2026 Exercise
During the concluding phase of Exercise Balikatan 2026, military forces from the United States, Philippines, Japan, and Canada successfully sank two decommissioned Philippine Navy vessels off the coast of Northern Luzon. This two-day live-fire event, known as MARSTRIKE, utilized a combination of land, sea, and air platforms to demonstrate enhanced interoperability and maritime defense capabilities among the allied nations. On the first day, the BRP Quezon was targeted and sunk using a Japanese Type-88 surface-to-ship missile and U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The following day, the Philippine Air Force deployed FA-50PH Fighting Eagles and A-29 Super Tucanos to sink the BRP Rajah Sulayman. Supporting assets included the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown and various U.S. Marine Corps systems. Officials highlighted that the exercise validated tactical integration across multiple domains and reinforced the commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The drill serves as the largest annual military engagement between the U.S. and the Philippines, aiming to improve combined readiness against potential maritime threats.
Army TimesJapan Fires Anti-Ship Missiles Outside Its Territory for First Time During Philippine War Drills
On May 6, 2026, Japan made history by firing Type-88 surface-to-ship missiles outside its own territory for the first time since World War II during the annual Balikatan military exercises in the Philippines. Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force troops launched two missiles from Culili Point in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, striking and sinking the former U.S. Navy minesweeper BRP Quezon approximately 75 kilometers offshore within six minutes. The target vessel, originally commissioned as USS Vigilance in 1944, had served in WWII before being transferred to the Philippine Navy. The exercise involved over 17,000 troops from Japan, the U.S., the Philippines, and Canada, marking the largest Balikatan drills ever conducted. The event signals a significant shift in Japan's military posture away from its postwar defensive restrictions, amid rising tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific region.
19FortyFiveJapan Fires Anti-Ship Missiles Outside Its Territory for First Time Since WWII During Philippine War Drills
On May 6, 2026, Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force troops launched two Type-88 surface-to-ship missiles from Culili Point in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, striking and sinking the former U.S. Navy minesweeper BRP Quezon approximately 75 kilometers offshore within six minutes. This marks the first time Japan has fired anti-ship missiles outside its own territory since World War II, signaling a dramatic shift in Tokyo's military posture. The launch occurred during the annual Balikatan military exercises, the largest and most technologically advanced to date, involving over 17,000 troops from Japan, the U.S., the Philippines, Canada, and other allied nations. The target vessel, originally USS Vigilance, served in WWII against Japan before being transferred to the Philippine Navy. The exercise also included Philippine, Canadian, and U.S. naval and air assets, with U.S. Marine Corps deploying additional anti-ship systems nearby. The event has sent shockwaves through Beijing and highlights the Indo-Pacific's shift toward missile-centric maritime warfare amid rising tensions with China.
19FortyFiveMissiles Sink Ex-Philippine Warship in Strategic Luzon Strait Drills
During the Balikatan 2026 military exercises, joint forces from the United States, Japan, and the Philippines successfully sank a decommissioned Philippine Navy warship in the highly strategic Luzon Strait. The target vessel, the former BRP Quezon, an 890-ton Rizal-class patrol corvette originally built as a U.S. Navy minesweeper during World War II, was destroyed in a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX). The operation commenced with a U.S. Army M30/31 Guided Multiple-Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) firing a probing round from the coast of Ilocos Norte to confirm the ship's location. Subsequently, anti-ship missiles were launched from a U.S. Marine Corps Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), utilizing Naval Strike Missiles (NSM), and a Philippine Navy C-Star system. This demonstration of combined maritime strike capabilities occurs amidst rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting the strengthening defense alliance between the participating nations. The drills took place near the Paoay Sand Dunes, showcasing the integration of land-based rocket artillery and advanced anti-ship missile systems in a realistic combat scenario.
The War ZoneUS, Philippines, Japan, and Canada Conduct 'Littoral Deep Battle' Exercise in Northern Luzon
During the Balikatan 2026 military exercises in Laoag, Philippines, a combined force of American, Philippine, Canadian, and Japanese troops conducted a live-fire drill known as 'Littoral Deep Battle.' The exercise simulated the defense against an amphibious invasion, utilizing target drones resembling Chinese Type 05 amphibious fighting vehicles. Approximately 800 troops from Task Force Lightning engaged these targets across the La Paz Sand Dunes, employing reconnaissance drones like the Anduril Ghost-X and fighter jets to detect and strike enemy forces in maritime and littoral zones. This event highlights the expanding scope of the U.S.-Philippine alliance, which has increasingly oriented its drills toward potential contingencies in the Luzon Strait and Taiwan, despite Manila's official apprehension about directly assisting in Taiwan's defense. The operation integrated lessons from Ukraine and U.S. Army deep battle theory to counter peer adversaries. Command structures involved the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division on the ground and the I Marine Expeditionary Force providing higher-level control from Manila, demonstrating enhanced interoperability and combined anti-invasion capabilities among the allied nations.
USNI NewsUS and Allies Train to Repel Amphibious Assaults in Pacific Balikatan Exercise
During the annual Balikatan military exercise in the Philippines, the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division, alongside Filipino and Japanese forces, conducted live-fire training to repel simulated amphibious assaults. Positioned near Laoag, less than 400 miles from Taiwan, troops utilized new weaponry including HIMARS launchers, loitering drones, and unmanned surface vessels to target simulated enemy warships and landing forces. Major General James Bartholomees emphasized that this synchronization of sensing and fires validates the modernization of joint forces under Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Samuel Paparo’s vision. The strategy aims to deny China the ability to achieve objectives through military aggression by demonstrating credible combat power. Colonel Daniel Von Benken highlighted the concept of 'maritime deep battle,' where Army assets echelon fires into the maritime environment to shape enemy forces before engaging on beaches. This exercise underscores the evolving role of the U.S. Army in the Pacific theater, moving beyond traditional land-based operations to integrate closely with Navy, Air Force, and partner nations to maintain regional stability and deter potential aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.
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