The Philippine military joined US and Japanese troops in a maritime exercise in the West Philippine Sea from November 14 to 15, 2025 to boost interoperability among its forces.
This is the eighth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) conducted this year and the 13th overall since the activity began.
The AFP deployed BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), and an AW159 helicopter. The USINDOPACOM contingent featured the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, composed of USS Nimitz (CVN68), USS Wayne Meyer (DDG108), USS Gridley (DDG101), and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG123). The JMSDF also participated with JS Akebono (DD-108) and an SH-60K Seahawk helicopter.
Enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) operations, the Philippine Coast Guard supported the activity through the BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV 9702) and BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV 4408).
The MMCA included a series of coordinated maritime and aerial operations such as rendezvous time, communication check exercises, MDA contact reporting, resupply-at-sea approaches, anti-submarine warfare drills, cross-deck landing exercises, division tactics/ officer of the watch maneuvers with photo exercise, and a Final Exercise (FINEX).
The AFP said the continued conduct of MMCA demonstrates the Philippines’ commitment to protecting its sovereign rights and strengthening collective defense readiness with like-minded partners.
“These engagements highlight not only the Philippines’ steadfast resolve to defend its maritime domains but also its shared commitment with partners to strengthen deterrence, enhance interoperability, and uphold freedom of navigation under a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.” AFP said.
