MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), together with the United States Armed Forces, Australian Defense Force, and New Zealand Defense Force, simulated coastline defenses against enemy amphibious landings.
Led by the Philippine Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Brigade, the activity called Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise (CLLFX-West) was held at the Apurawan Beach Landing Site in Aborlan, Palawan as part of Exercise Balikatan 41–2026.
“The exercise simulated a maritime threat involving an enemy amphibious landing along the coastline, showcasing combined forces’ capability to detect, disrupt, and deny hostile elements from establishing a beachhead,” the AFP said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The activity demonstrated strong coordination and interoperability among participating forces in a complex littoral environment,” the AFP said, a day after the drills.
The exercise highlighted a layered, multi-domain defense employing synchronized air, land, and indirect fire assets. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) deployed its FA-50 fighter jets for air interdiction while US forces provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) capabilities. Ground forces executed mid- to close-range engagements using artillery, mortars, light armored vehicles, anti-armor systems, heavy machine guns, and infantry weapons, supported by precision strikes and reconnaissance.
Simultaneously, a simulated Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation was conducted in Sitio Bubusawin and Sitio Long Point, alongside a community outreach activity in coordination with the local government of Aborlan and Barangay Apurawan, underscoring the AFP’s role in both defense and humanitarian operations.
Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr, AFP chief of staff, witnessed the live fire exercises, together with Vice Admiral Alan M Javier, head of the Western Command.
