15-8-2023 (MANILA) The Philippines and Australia have commenced their first-ever bilateral amphibious exercise aimed at enhancing their readiness to respond to shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. “Exercise Alon 2023” began with an official opening ceremony on the flight deck of the HMAS Canberra in Australia, attended by approximately 2,000 soldiers and sailors from the Philippines, Australia, and the United States. The two-week exercise will take place from August 14 to 31.
The exercise will involve training on amphibious assaults against hostile onshore targets and will utilize multiple ships and aircraft. Around 700 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), 1,200 Australian Defense Forces (ADF), and 150 US Marine Corps (USMC) will participate. The training will be conducted at various locations in the Northern Luzon Command and Western Command, with assets from the ADF, Philippine Navy, Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), Philippine Fleet, Philippine Air Force (PAF), and the Philippine Army, supported by the USMC.
The primary objective of Exercise Alon 2023 is to enhance interoperability and share tactics, techniques, procedures, and best practices in amphibious operations, supporting the missions of the PMC and AFP, according to AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Enrico Ileto. American troops will participate in a support role, working alongside the Australian Amphibious Force and providing the USMC MV-22 helicopter and other aircraft for a combined air assault event.
Exercise Alon 2023 is part of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour activity, which aims to promote security, stability, and stronger partnerships in the Southeast Asia and Indian Ocean regions through bilateral and multilateral engagement, training, capacity building, and humanitarian efforts.
In a separate military engagement, a weeklong flight training exercise called the Pacific Airlift Rally 2023 (PAR 2023) has begun at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga. The exercise, led by the Philippine Air Force (PAF), involves 14 air force representatives from various countries in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The participants will engage in flying training, tabletop exercises, and subject matter expert exchanges from August 14 to 18. The aim of PAR 2023 is to enhance operational readiness, foster interoperability, and promote international cooperation among the participating countries, including the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and others.
