3rd Marine Littoral Regiment leads combined, joint maritime strike

PAOAY SAND DUNES, Philippines — A two-day, multinational live-fire maritime strike capped Exercise Balikatan 2026, with the Hawaii-based 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment directing the operation as mission commander and linking Philippine, U.S., and Japanese strike assets into a coordinated kill chain.

Operating under the exercise’s Combined Joint Task Force, 3rd MLR employed its Fires and Air Direction Element to manage command and control across long distances and multiple domains. The regiment integrated allied sensors and shooters to deliver layered effects at sea, underscoring alliance cooperation during the 75th anniversary year of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty.

“The MARSTRIKE was a seamless demonstration of the relationships we have with our allies and partners,” said Maj Quinton Boyd, the deputy fires and effects coordinator with 3rd MLR. “From the relentless preparation and planning with them, to the live-fire execution, it’s clear that we can operate as a truly interoperable force.”

The first live-fire day focused on a pre-arranged target, the decommissioned Philippine Navy BRP Quezon (PS-70). Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Type-88 Surface-to-Ship Missiles and the U.S. Army’s 7th Infantry Division High Mobility Artillery Rocket System engaged the vessel, while a Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System from 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd MLR, conducted a simulated firing mission.

On the second day, Philippine Air Force FA-50PH Fighting Eagle and A-29 Super Tucano aircraft struck another decommissioned Philippine Navy ship, BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20), using targeting data fused by 3rd MLR, ultimately sinking the vessel.

Additional support came from a network of multinational sensors, command-and-control nodes, and simulated strike capabilities contributed by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, Philippine Navy, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Royal Canadian Navy, all tied into 3rd MLR’s Fires and Air Direction Element.

“The successful execution of MARSTRIKE underscored the interoperability of the combined, joint force – integrating capabilities from the Philippines, Japan, Canada, and U.S. Joint Forces across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps,” said Col. Gabriel Diana, the commanding officer of 3rd MLR. “The operation demonstrated our ability to synchronize intelligence collection and fires, ultimately layering and converging lethal effects against maritime targets.”

The event advanced Balikatan’s longstanding aim of strengthening the Philippine-U.S. alliance and building a capable combined force committed to regional stability, while highlighting how integrated partners can operate across air, land, and sea in a modern, multi-domain battlespace.