MANILA – The successful conduct of the ninth multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) between the Philippines and its allies demonstrates the "growing synergy" between partner nations, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Wednesday.
"The 9th MMCA demonstrates the growing synergy among like-minded partners in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. These exercises are vital in strengthening our collective defense posture and operational readiness,” he said in a statement.
He added that this highlights the strategic importance of the MMCA.
He said the activity also reaffirms the AFP's commitment to fostering international cooperation, maintaining maritime security, and safeguarding Philippine sovereignty in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The AFP said the latest MMCA on Tuesday took place in the West Philippine Sea under the operational control of the Northern Luzon Command. Participating in this training event are personnel and assets from the AFP, the Australian Defense Force, and the United States Indo-Pacific Command.
The exercise brought together key maritime and air assets from the three partner nations, showcasing a strong commitment to regional security, interoperability, and cooperation in support of a rules-based international order.
The Philippine deployment included the guided missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), an AW-159 "Wildcat" anti-submarine helicopter, three FA-50PH fighter jets, and Philippine Air Force search-and-rescue platforms.
Meanwhile, Australia deployed the Hobart-class air defense destroyer, HMAS Sydney (DDG-42) while the United States contributed F-16 and F-18 multi-role fighters as well as long-range bomber aircraft.
The ninth MMCA featured a series of integrated operations aimed at improving tactical coordination and combined operational capabilities among the three nations.
These included a communications check exercise, rotary flight operations/vertical replenishment, division tactics, and a photo exercise. Air patrols and an anti-submarine warfare exercise were also conducted, demonstrating multi-domain coordination and shared maritime security objectives. (PNA)