Camille Naredo

Troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Japan participate in counter-landing drills in Laoag City, May 4, 2026, as part of the Balikatan 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

Troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Japan participate in counter-landing drills in Laoag City, May 4, 2026, as part of the Balikatan 2026.

Article (news)

Balikatan 2026

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777884515773viber_image_2026-05-04_15-31-47-182.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Japan participate in counter-landing drills in Laoag City, May 4, 2026, as part of the Balikatan 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/>Troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Japan participate in counter-landing drills in Laoag City, May 4, 2026, as part of the Balikatan 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- Successive rockets thundered across the coastline of the La Paz Sand Dunes in Laoag City as United States forces fired the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) toward simulated targets several kilometers off the shore—demonstrating long-range strike capabilities during the counter-landing live-fire exercise of the Balikatan 2026.Mounted on a five-ton truck, the HIMARS can launch up to six guided rockets in rapid succession, significantly extending the reach of ground forces.&quot;The biggest thing we implemented was the first thing you saw—the HIMARS,&quot; Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, commander of the US Army&#x27;s 25th Infantry Division, told reporters in Ilocos Norte.&quot;It is a rocket capability. That capability extends the reach of our forces and we are training with the Philippine Army, as well as the Japanese in their rocket capability,&quot; he added.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/2/ph-us-test-sea-denial-capability-with-nmesis-deployment-in-batanes-1421">READ: PH, US test sea denial capability with NMESIS deployment in Batanes</a></div>More than 800 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Japan participated in the counter-landing drills held in Laoag City, marking the first time Japanese forces joined the Balikatan as active participants rather than observers.The exercise simulated a scenario in which joint forces must prevent an enemy force from establishing a foothold along Philippine shores.The US Army deployed its AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, firing live ammunition at designated targets.On the ground and at sea, Philippine Army units engaged floating targets using 105-mm howitzers and Sabrah light tanks, while a sea drone assessed the accuracy of the strikes.The US also demonstrated its Javelin weapon system, launching Stinger missiles that successfully hit drone targets.Military officials said the drills are crucial in strengthening defense capabilities amid the rise of unmanned aerial threats and drone warfare.&quot;The training that we&#x27;re conducting as part of Exercise Balikatan is becoming more complex across all domains: air, sea, and the land,&quot; Bartholomees said.He added: &quot;And so, in the modernization of our militaries, we look to modernize our capabilities with unmanned systems not only in the air, but also in the sea.&quot;&quot;It&#x27;s important to note that this is not just a US capability; this is a Philippines capability, Japanese capability. All of our like-minded nations are working towards having more capability that we can use unmanned systems to support our defense and our activities and our training,&quot; he added.Troops from the three nations also conducted coordinated live-fire engagements against simulated enemy forces that had reached the shoreline.With Japan&#x27;s expanded participation, officials said interoperability among allied forces has significantly improved.&quot;I think we have attained the objective that we will be training to fight together with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force,&quot; said Lt. Gen. Aristotle Gonzales, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command.&quot;Bringing in their equipment, they were able to see how they can interoperate, this time not just with American forces, but with the Armed Forces of the Philippines,&quot; he noted.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/29/ph-allies-conduct-refueling-drill-maritime-activity-off-bajo-de-masinloc-1138">READ: PH, allies conduct refueling drill, maritime activity off Bajo de Masinloc</a></div>Bartholomees echoed the sentiment, describing the participation of Japanese forces as &quot;absolutely amazing.&quot;Col. Sho Tomino of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force&#x27;s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade said the experience strengthened ties among the allies.&quot;It is a very great experience for us. This is our first time to join the exercise… I believe we made our bond, &#x27;shoulder-to-shoulder&#x27; bond, strong. We made it,&quot; he said.The officials also clarified that the selection of Ilocos Norte as the exercise site was based on terrain suitability and not linked to any specific geopolitical situation.&quot;As you can see, the terrain here in this part of Northern Luzon is very appropriate for the exercise that we have just performed,&quot; Gonzales explained. &quot;It allows us to maximize checking our capabilities, our tactics, techniques, and procedures.&quot;He emphasized that the drills are not directed against any particular country.&quot;We are simulating an exercise that has been part of pre-planned activities… but it is not directed towards any particular country,&quot; Gonzales stressed.On Wednesday, the Balikatan Exercise will culminate in a maritime strike exercise, where a decommissioned Philippine Navy vessel, the BRP Quezon, will be used as a mock target and sunk in waters off Paoay town.

More than 800 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Japan participated in the counter-landing drills held in Laoag City, marking the first time Japanese forces joined the Balikatan as active participants rather than observers.

More than 800 troops from the Philippines, the United States, and Japan participated in the counter-landing drills held in Laoag City, marking the first time Japanese forces joined the Balikatan as active participants rather than observers.

Balikatan 2026: PH, US, Japan forces simulate coastal defense, repel mock invasion in Laoag drills

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Balikatan 2026: PH, US, Japan forces simulate coastal defense, repel mock invasion in Laoag drills

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 04, 2026 04:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Balikatan

Armed Forces of the Philippines

United States

Japan

counter landing

Laoag City

Ilocos Norte

drones

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