The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their counterparts from the United States will dramatically showcase their modern weapon systems in their joint maritime strike drills that will sink the BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19), a decommissioned World War II corvette, as a special feature of their current “Balikatan” (shoulder-t-o-shoulder) military exercises.
The BRP Miguel Malvar will be positioned about 30 to 40 nautical miles off the Zambales coast. The sinking exercise will take today, Monday, April 5. “This is the third ship we will be sinking,” Balikatan 2025 spokesperson Brig. Gen. Michael Logico said in a media interview.
The first ship sunk during the history of “Balikatan” took place in April 2023 and involved the decommissioned World War II corvette, the BRP Pangasinan (PS-31). The other was the retired naval oil tanker, the BRP Lake Caliraya (AF-81), during last year’s exercises.
The AFP will use its FA-50PH fighter jets and A-29B “Super Tucano” attack aircraft and its fast-attack interdictor craft, which will firie its Spike Non-Line of Sight missiles.
Guided missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), meanwhile, will also take part in the drills with its LIG NEX 1 C-Star sea-skimming surface-to-surface cruise missile system.
“The US will also be firing, using their air assets, their bombers, their F-16 and F-18 fighter jets,” Logico said.