United States
Australia
United Kingdom
Europe
New Zealand
Canada
FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines — Military forces from the United States, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan executed Operation Sama Sama, a complex multi-domain air assault, on May 17, 2026, as part of the Philippine-led Exercise Salaknib and the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable (JPMRC-X) training rotation. The event tested the coalition’s ability to rapidly deploy and integrate capabilities to secure key terrain in a contested, archipelagic environment.
“Exercise Salaknib means ‘shield,’ and today we demonstrated the strength of that shield alongside our regional partners,” said Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, the commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division.
The synchronized maneuver opened with a ground element led by a New Zealand Army infantry platoon, reinforced by Australian reconnaissance and sniper teams, establishing initial security at a designated landing zone in Northern Luzon. U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade then inserted the main assault force—soldiers from the Philippine Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force—to seize the objective area. The 25th Infantry Division’s 3rd Mobile Brigade provided a command-and-control node to integrate the multinational forces.
After defeating a platoon of opposition forces and securing the landing zone, the coalition showcased rapid deployment by moving a U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System into position to conduct a simulated long-range precision fire.
Leaders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force observed the operation in person. “This mission is a clear display of our collective readiness,” Bartholomees added. “‘Sama Sama’ means ‘together’ in Tagalog, and by integrating forces from five nations into a single, complex maneuver, we are building the mutual understanding and tactical interoperability that makes our multinational coalition so effective.”
The operation marked a key milestone in validating the coalition’s ability to communicate, maneuver, and coordinate as a unified partnership. As part of Exercise Salaknib, JPMRC-X brings together U.S., Philippine, and partner forces in realistic scenarios to enhance combined operational effectiveness, refine multi-domain tactics, and strengthen regional readiness in the Indo-Pacific.
