US Marines join Australian Army and Armed Forces of the Philippines to launch Exercise Predator’s Run in Townsville

U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26 joined soldiers from the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 1st Brigade Combat Team to launch Exercise Predator’s Run 26 in Townsville on July 21, 2026. The nine-day training event is designed to deepen regional cooperation by integrating the three militaries into an interchangeable force.

Conducted across the Townsville Field Training Area, the exercise removes traditional operational seams, bringing the participants under a unified command structure for complex force-on-force maneuvers. Units are integrating at the platoon level throughout the event, which culminates in a combined defensive live-fire scenario.

“Interoperability is more than a concept; it is about confirming our ability to fight as an integrated unit, built on trust developed through demonstrated competence in our shared tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Maj. Joseph Adams, commanding officer of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, MRF-D 26. “We are conducting combined drills with our Australian partners to refine and validate our ability to seamlessly execute integrated operations.”

Organizers describe the effort as a shift from basic compatibility toward tactical integration, with allied units validating unified command and control, shared logistics, and complex combined-arms maneuvers. The exercise concludes in late July, strengthening the tactical readiness of all three forces and underscoring the United States’ commitment to a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.