The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) concluded a five-day series of high-level military exercises on Saturday, aimed at bolstering defense interoperability and regional security.
The drills, which ran from February 2 to 6, featured coordinated maneuvers across various locations in Luzon and the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“The bilateral engagement featured a series of coordinated air activities aimed at strengthening cooperation and interoperability between Philippine and US forces,” said PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco in an official statement.
The exercises began on February 2 with a live-drop mission at the Col. Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Tarlac, involving two PAF FA-50PH fighter jets and two American B-52 strategic bombers.
On February 4, the focus shifted to the West Philippine Sea for an air defense scenario.
This segment tested the two nations’ ability to integrate command-and-control systems and coordinate joint responses within contested airspace.
The engagement culminated on Friday, February 6, with a joint bomber air patrol conducted over the West Philippine Sea and the Luzon Strait. According to Basco, this final phase demonstrated the “combined mission planning, airspace coordination, and operational readiness” of the participating units.
The operations were supported by the US Special Operations Command Pacific and Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.
The PAF noted that the week-long collaboration underscores the continued commitment of both nations to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific through enhanced military synergy.