THE Philippine Navy is set to deploy its most modern and up-to-date warships for this year’s Balikatan exercises with United States forces, a Navy spokesperson said.
“Only the (guided-missile) frigates, the Rizal and Malvar classes, LDs (landing docks), and FAIC (fast interdiction craft-missile) will be participating in ‘BK’ (Balikatan),” Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez told reporters.
She declined to name the specific vessels for security reasons, noting that ship commitments are finalized during the Middle Planning Conference and the Final Planning Conference held in the third and fourth quarters of last year.
This year’s Balikatan exercises are tentatively scheduled from April to May.
Among the Navy’s frontline assets are the two frigate vessels, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) delivered between 2020 and 2021.
The two Malvar-class guided missile frigates, which were ordered in 2021 from the same shipbuilders, were both delivered and commissioned in 2025.
Balikatan is the Philippines’ largest annual military exercise with the United States, aimed at enhancing interoperability, strengthening defense capabilities, and promoting regional security.
