THE Philippine Army is preparing for this year’s Salaknib and Balikatan joint exercises with its American counterpart.
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said the preparation comes in their own unilateral drill called Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) “Katihan” which simulates wartime operations and battlefield settings in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
“The Army gears up for the CATEX Catihan 02-2025. The second iteration of CATEX Catihan will be conducted from March 3-12, 2025 at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. CATEX Catihan will simulate wartime operations with emphasis on a realistic battlefield setting, “Dema-ala said during a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
The exercise will test the land defense concept whereby combined arms operations serve as a key tool of the Army’s land defense strategy to overcome current and future threats, according to Dema-ala.
He also said this year’s Katihan will be bigger than its previous iteration, consisting of various infantry divisions of the land-based unit which is composed of roughly 5,000 troops.
“Various unit trainings involving different war fighting functions will be integrated into CATEX Katihan. This exercise also paves the way for our preparation and participation in Salaknib and Balikatan exercises and the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center exportable exercises with the U.S. Army Pacific,” he said.
“I believe it is still an ongoing planning process as to the Salaknib and Balikatan, and we could not determine yet how many will be involved. But as of now for the KATIHAN, because the Philippine Army is preparing for that, for Salaknib and Balikatan, and we can assure that the units that will be deployed during the KATIHAN will be the same unit that will be employed for the Salaknib and Balikatan,” he added.
Dema-ala also said this year’s Katihan will focus on the identified flaws during its first iteration.
Last year, over 6,000 troops from various Army units across the country joined the exercise.