Multinational forces test defensive readiness in Balikatan 2026 counter-landing exercise

Aporawan, Philippines — More than 500 service members from the United States, Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand executed a coordinated land-and-air defense to stop a simulated amphibious assault on April 27 during Exercise Balikatan 2026.

The counter-landing live-fire training brought together advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance with an integrated command-and-control node to sense a mobile notional adversary, make collective real-time decisions, and mass fires from missile systems, fighter aircraft, mortars, and machine guns. “We can talk about all the capabilities we have, but the integration of those capabilities is the cornerstone of how this is done right,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. G. J. Flynn III, commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin. “The friendships that we made being in the dirt in defensive positions alongside each other, that is what really matters about this event.”

It marked the first time these four nations conducted a counter-landing live-fire event during Balikatan. Participants included U.S. Marines from Marine Rotational Force – Darwin; U.S. soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division/Multi-Domain Command–Pacific; Philippine marines from the 3rd Marine Brigade and elements of the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Army; soldiers from the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment; and, for the first time, soldiers from the 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. “Beach defense is not the responsibility of a single unit or domain, it requires seamless integration across services and with our allies,” said Philippine Marine Corps Col. Dennis Hernandez, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson for Balikatan 2026. “Exercises like this ensure that we are prepared to protect our coastal communities and territorial integrity with precision, speed, and overwhelming coordination.”

The scenario began as ISR assets located a mock enemy amphibious ship and pushed intelligence to the combined C2 node. As the vessel neared shore, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems engaged targets at the beachhead. When assault amphibious vehicles and fast boats closed in, defending forces responded with mortars, Stinger air-defense missiles, and anti-armor systems including the Javelin and Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missiles. The event concluded with direct-fire weapons from all participating nations defeating the final wave and holding the beach.

“We participated in Exercise Balikatan to strengthen interoperability with partner nations and our ally, Australia,” said New Zealand Army Capt. Will Hutchinson, acting second-in-command of Combat Team Jackal. “The soldiers got a lot from working with a combined force and it’s something we’re looking to continue in the future.”

Organizers described the training as a way to sharpen tactical proficiency, align capabilities, and strengthen military-to-military coordination among the four nations. “It’s fitting that Balikatan in Tagalog means ‘shoulder-to-shoulder.’ The counter-landing live fire showcases sophisticated capabilities, and down at a low level, the soldier-to-solider partnership with the Philippines Armed Forces,” said Australian Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Woolmer, commanding officer of the 5th/7th Battalion, RAR. “Being able to share lessons with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and work shoulder-to-shoulder is a great end in itself.”

Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen their alliance, improve combined capabilities, and demonstrate a shared commitment to regional security and stability.