Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
2d ago

Australia and Philippines Launch Alon 25, Their Largest-Ever Joint Drill

More than 3,600 troops from four nations conduct live-fire, amphibious, airlift drills through Aug. 29 in the Philippines to bolster regional security, facilitate interoperability.

(From left) MGen Francisco F Lorenzo Jr., Commander of AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command; AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S Brawner Jr; Deputy Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines, Dr Moya Collett; Mr. Donald D. Ocampo, Acting Head, DFA Consular Office in Puerto Princesa; VAdm Alfonso F Torres Jr., Commander of Western Command; and Deputy Chief of Joint Operations MGen Hugh McAslan sing the Philippine national anthem marking the opening ceremony of Exercise ALON 2025.

Overview

  • Exercise Alon 25 represents Australia’s largest overseas exercise of 2025, serving as the Philippines’ biggest bilateral drill to date.
  • Drills around Palawan and Luzon feature land and maritime live-fire, amphibious landings, maritime manoeuvres and the mass airlift of an Army battle group.
  • Participating forces include the ADF, AFP, Royal Canadian Navy the U.S.U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Rotation Force–Darwin contributing over 3,600 personnel.
  • Australia has deployed an Amphibious Force Joint Task Force HQ, the Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane, a combined-arms land task group and an air task group of Super Hornets, Growlers and Hercules aircraft.
  • Defence leaders emphasize strict safety protocols, advance public notifications and adherence to international law to reinforce sovereignty and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.