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Advocates Philippines
PH And Japan Strengthen Maritime Ties With New Joint Sea Drills
Photo credit: AFP
The Philippines and Japan took another step forward in boosting their defense partnership as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) completed their third Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) on November 29, 2025, in the West Philippine Sea.
For this round of joint drills, the AFP deployed the BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), a PN AW159 helicopter, and the Philippine Air Force’s C-208B surveillance aircraft. Japan, meanwhile, sent the JS Harusame (DD102) and an SH-60K helicopter to join the operations.
The two countries carried out several interoperability exercises designed to improve coordination and strengthen real-world cooperation at sea. These included:
• Division Tactics / Officer of the Watch Maneuver (DIVTACS/OOW) – a coordinated movement drill where ships practiced holding formation and adjusting positions together
• PHOTOEX (photo exercise) – a precise formation sailing activity captured for documentation
• Cross-deck landing operations – allowing helicopter crews to practice landing on each other’s vessels, boosting familiarity and aviation coordination
The maritime activity comes on the heels of the successful PH–France MCA conducted just a day earlier in Eastern Mindanao. Together, these exercises highlight the AFP’s continuing effort to broaden international defense cooperation and maintain regular engagement with allied forces.
For this round of joint drills, the AFP deployed the BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), a PN AW159 helicopter, and the Philippine Air Force’s C-208B surveillance aircraft. Japan, meanwhile, sent the JS Harusame (DD102) and an SH-60K helicopter to join the operations.
The two countries carried out several interoperability exercises designed to improve coordination and strengthen real-world cooperation at sea. These included:
• Division Tactics / Officer of the Watch Maneuver (DIVTACS/OOW) – a coordinated movement drill where ships practiced holding formation and adjusting positions together
• PHOTOEX (photo exercise) – a precise formation sailing activity captured for documentation
• Cross-deck landing operations – allowing helicopter crews to practice landing on each other’s vessels, boosting familiarity and aviation coordination
The maritime activity comes on the heels of the successful PH–France MCA conducted just a day earlier in Eastern Mindanao. Together, these exercises highlight the AFP’s continuing effort to broaden international defense cooperation and maintain regular engagement with allied forces.
Dec 1, 2025
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