The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Armed Forces along with counterparts from Indonesia and Japan hold a combined joint littoral live fire exercises, highlighted by the firing of the HIMARS, during the 2023 RP-US Balikatan exercise at the Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in San Antonio, Zambales on April 26, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File 

RP-US BALIKATAN EXERCISE

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<img src="https://news-image-api.abs-cbn.com/Prod/editorImage/172318553685520230426-ph-us-balikatan-zambales-JC9411.jpg" style="width: 900px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Armed Forces along with counterparts from Indonesia and Japan hold a combined joint littoral live fire exercises, highlighted by the firing of the HIMARS, during the 2023 RP-US Balikatan exercise at the Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in San Antonio, Zambales on April 26, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File&nbsp;&nbsp;MANILA &ndash; The US Army trained Filipino soldiers in the use of the&nbsp;&nbsp;HIMARS rocket system&nbsp;in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Thursday.&nbsp;The HIMARS or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live exercise is part of the bilateral Salaknib exercise that aims to strengthen the Philippines&#39; capability to defend its territory with American help.&nbsp;Using military assets from the US Army, Philippine Army soldiers were trained in the use of HIMARS, focusing on accuracy, range, and effectiveness in various operational scenarios.Filipino soldiers fired 3 rockets.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a wheeled vehicle that can launch up to 6 missiles at ranges of 60-80 kilometers, and today we shot three rockets to demonstrate capabilities if ever needed in a training environment or if a crisis or conflict arises,&rdquo; said CPT. Garret Kohnke, US Army battery commander of the Long-Range Fire Battalion.The Philippines does not have its own HIMARS yet, but the purchase of a multi-launch rocket system is included in the AFP modernization program to enhance the country&#39;s defense, especially given the tensions in the West Philippine Sea.<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/6/china-maintains-presence-in-west-philippine-sea-1700">China maintains presence in West Philippine Sea</a><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/8/afp-says-no-chinese-military-exercise-near-bajo-de-masinloc-2224">AFP says no Chinese military exercise near Bajo de Masinloc</a>&ldquo;As part ng Horizon 3 project ng ating modernization program ng ating AFP, part yung pag-procure ng multi-launch rocket system and itong HIMARS ay isa sa pinagpipilian, kasama ng ibang mga multi-launch rocket system ng ibang bansa from Korea, Turkey and even from Europe,&rdquo; said Col. Leo Catipay, commandant of the Philippine Army&rsquo;s Artillery Training School.&ldquo;Sa ngayon, wala pa pa tayo desisyon kung ano yung mapipili depende sa joint defense acquisition ng ating DND.&rdquo;&nbsp;The United States will provide $500 million in military funding to the Philippines, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a recent visit in Manila.&nbsp;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/7/aus-can-us-ph-exercise-1724">Australia, Canada, US and Philippines hold exercise in West PH Sea</a>His visit&nbsp;follows a series of escalating confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.&nbsp;

Filipino soldiers fired 3 rockets.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a wheeled vehicle that can launch up to 6 missiles at ranges of 60-80 kilometers, and today we shot three rockets to demonstrate capabilities if ever needed in a training environment or if a crisis or conflict arises,&rdquo; said CPT. Garret Kohnke, US Army battery commander of the Long-Range Fire Battalion.The Philippines does not have its own HIMARS yet, but the purchase of a multi-launch rocket system is included in the AFP modernization program to enhance the country&#39;s defense, especially given the tensions in the West Philippine Sea.<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/6/china-maintains-presence-in-west-philippine-sea-1700">China maintains presence in West Philippine Sea</a><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/8/afp-says-no-chinese-military-exercise-near-bajo-de-masinloc-2224">AFP says no Chinese military exercise near Bajo de Masinloc</a>&ldquo;As part ng Horizon 3 project ng ating modernization program ng ating AFP, part yung pag-procure ng multi-launch rocket system and itong HIMARS ay isa sa pinagpipilian, kasama ng ibang mga multi-launch rocket system ng ibang bansa from Korea, Turkey and even from Europe,&rdquo; said Col. Leo Catipay, commandant of the Philippine Army&rsquo;s Artillery Training School.&ldquo;Sa ngayon, wala pa pa tayo desisyon kung ano yung mapipili depende sa joint defense acquisition ng ating DND.&rdquo;&nbsp;The United States will provide $500 million in military funding to the Philippines, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a recent visit in Manila.&nbsp;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/7/aus-can-us-ph-exercise-1724">Australia, Canada, US and Philippines hold exercise in West PH Sea</a>His visit&nbsp;follows a series of escalating confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.&nbsp;

The HIMARS or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live exercise is part of the bilateral Salaknib exercise that aims to strengthen the Philippines&#39; capability to defend its territory with American help.&nbsp;Using military assets from the US Army, Philippine Army soldiers were trained in the use of HIMARS, focusing on accuracy, range, and effectiveness in various operational scenarios.

<img src="https://news-image-api.abs-cbn.com/Prod/editorImage/172318553685520230426-ph-us-balikatan-zambales-JC9411.jpg" style="width: 900px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Armed Forces along with counterparts from Indonesia and Japan hold a combined joint littoral live fire exercises, highlighted by the firing of the HIMARS, during the 2023 RP-US Balikatan exercise at the Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in San Antonio, Zambales on April 26, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File&nbsp;&nbsp;MANILA &ndash; The US Army trained Filipino soldiers in the use of the&nbsp;&nbsp;HIMARS rocket system&nbsp;in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Thursday.&nbsp;

The US Army trained Filipino soldiers in the use of the HIMARS rocket system in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Thursday.

The US Army trained Filipino soldiers in the use of the HIMARS rocket system in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Thursday.

Philippine, US troops hold live rocket exercise | ABS-CBN News

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Philippine, US troops hold live rocket exercise

Philippine, US troops hold live rocket exercise