As part of the ongoing "Balikatan" exercises, Filipino, American, and Australian troops conducted air assault drills in Ilocos Norte province on Sunday, April 23.
In a statement, Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said that the Philippine Army (PA) soldiers and their counterparts from the US Army, US Marine Corps, and Australian Defence Force conducted air assault operations at the Paredes Air Station, Barangay 32 Sapat, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, on April 23.
According to him, 81 personnel from the Philippine Army's 99th Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, as well as US Army and Royal Australian Army soldiers, conducted air assault maneuvers at the airstrip.
Meanwhile, this year's Balikatan includes over 17,600 Filipino and American soldiers, making it the largest version of the exercise to date.
The military drills also include a force of 111 Australian Defense Force troops.
Earlier, on April 21, PA and US Army Pacific (USARPAC), personnel conducted an air attack preparation exercise at the Aviation Regiment Airstrip in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija province, as part of the ongoing Balikatan.
As part of the exercise, 81 troops from the PA's 99th Infantry Battalion and their USARPAC counterparts completed hot and cold load training onboard UH-60 "Black Hawk" helicopters.

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PH, US, Aussie troops conduct air assault drill in Ilocos Norte