The Balikatan exercises for this year feature a scenario on defending the country's territory from potential invaders, whether by sea, air, or land.
A report by RH Edniel Parrosa revealed that the United States Marines deployed the NMESIS anti-ship missile, which DZRH News confirmed was initially positioned in Batanes before being relocated to a site in Northern Luzon.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth first announced that the weapon, which China has expressed concerns over, was deployed for the 40th edition of the joint war games between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. forces.
However, according to a source, there is a high possibility that it will remain in the country, not only for the upcoming military drills but also due to its design and paint, which seem to be modeled after the terrain of the archipelago.
Although the NMESIS was not physically shown to the media, it was personally witnessed by the Defense Press during one of the 'full battle simulations' conducted off the coast of the Luzon Strait, particularly the counter-landing live-fire exercise in the town of Aparri, Cagayan.
Nearly 300 troops from the Philippine and U.S. Army, Marines, and Air Force took part in surveillance and artillery operations.
These forces used several assets, including Manila’s 105mm and 155mm tanks, as well as Washington’s Javelin missiles, P-8A Poseidon aircraft, and F-16 and F-18 fighter jets.
The military drills kicked off when a U.S. aircraft spotted a major amphibious assault 15 kilometers from Barangay Dodan.
Rescue operations were carried out with air support from F-16 and F-18 fighter jets, which were deployed from Clark Airbase in Pampanga.
As the supposed enemy drew closer, the allied forces deployed tanks and Javelin missiles, ultimately ending the battle with close-range gunfire from the shoreline.
BGen. Michael Logico, the Balikatan spokesperson, explained that this strategy is meant to train ground defense independently of the Philippine Navy.
Despite an interloper being spotted during the drills, it was considered a success.
"An aircraft was detected into our airspace and it was detected," said Logico.
Even though the exercises were carried out in the north, the AFP maintained that this was not preparation for a potential escalation of tensions in Taiwan.
