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The 155mm M777 howitzer of the Australian Defense Force during Exercise ALON, August 27, 2025. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

The 155mm M777 howitzer of the Australian Defense Force during Exercise ALON, August 27, 2025.

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Exercise ALON

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756293314730viber_image_2025-08-27_19-11-19-497.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The 155mm M777 howitzer of the Australian Defense Force during Exercise ALON, August 27, 2025. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News"/>The 155mm M777 howitzer of the Australian Defense Force during Exercise ALON, August 27, 2025. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- Explosions echoed across the fire base in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday morning as the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, and Australian Defense Force conducted combined live fire drills.The drills are still part of this year’s Exercise ALON between Manila and Canberra.During the exercise, troops from both countries took turns striking a mock enemy force positioned 11 kilometers away from the fire base, on the other side of the mountain.“The scenario is there is an ongoing counter-attack on the land forces and we have here the fire support from both the Australian Army howitzers,” Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete told reporters in an interview in Laur.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/23/ph-australia-canada-hold-exercise-alon-near-palawan-2125">READ: PH, Australia, Canada hold &#x27;Exercise ALON&#x27; near Palawan</a></div>The Philippine Army used two of its ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzers while the Australian Army fired its 155mm M777 howitzers.Lt. Col. Andrew Raven, commanding officer of the 8th/9th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, noted that both forces used up over 160 rounds of ammunition during the drills.“Why do we have an interval in between firing? It’s because what we’re trying to do is maintain pressure on the enemy. Every second or every minute that you don’t have artillery shell falling on the enemy, it’s good news for them. So, what we do is we try to break up the two different systems to maintain the pressure and we do not need to increase the rate of fire between the artillery pieces,” he explained.Two T-129 ATAK helicopters of the Philippine Air Force also took to the skies to provide close air support.However, due to bad weather, other aircraft were not able to conduct maneuvers.“We failed to see how the Tucano delivered this morning. These aircraft… can perform combat maneuvers and deliver ammunitions during inclement weather. However, in the interest of safety, since it is an exercise, the pilot decided to abort the live fire,” Philippine Air Force commanding general Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura said.“There are contingencies we consider, but in actual combat, this weather [does] not restrain. It may give limitations in terms of the capability of the aircraft, but the pilots are trained, the aircraft are designed to address targets,” he added.In a separate exercise, the Philippine Army showcased its tanks and 81mm mortars while the Australian Army demonstrated the strength of its tanks, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, and Javelin anti-tank weapon systems.Both forces unleashed continuous firepower to hit multiple targets.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/24/teodoro-impressed-by-smooth-coordination-between-ph-aussie-forces-during-exercise-alon-2005">READ: Teodoro impressed by smooth coordination between PH, Aussie forces during &#x27;Exercise ALON&#x27;</a></div>For military officials, exercises like these are important not only to boost the Philippines’ territorial defense capabilities, but also to strengthen interoperability and coordination with allied and partner nations.“Our allies’ exercises like this allow us to transition fairly because we have been battling insurgency for more than 50 years. Now, we are transitioning to territorial defense operations.”“With the help of our regional partners, the more we train with them, the more we interoperate with them, the more we learn,” Cordura said.“We have several capabilities also. We are also practicing our cyber and communications, and command and control so we will have the same language with like-minded nations, such as Australia,” Nafarrete added.After nearly two weeks of training on land, sea, and air by the two countries, Exercise ALON is set to officially conclude on Friday.

Explosions echoed across the fire base in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday morning as the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, and Australian Defense Force conducted combined live fire drills.

Explosions echoed across the fire base in Laur, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday morning as the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, and Australian Defense Force conducted combined live fire drills.

PH, Australian armies demonstrate combined firepower in live fire exercise

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PH, Australian armies demonstrate combined firepower in live fire exercise

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 27, 2025 07:21 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Army

Philippine Air Force

Australian Defense Force

Exercise Alon

live fire drills

howitzers

tanks

helicopters

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