The United States and the Philippines have expanded their military cooperation with a training exercise focused on the operational use of the Philippines’ BrahMos coastal defence system. U.S. Marines and Philippine forces worked together to rehearse maritime strike planning during Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum 26.4 at Camp Bojeador in northern Luzon.
The exercise centred on a simulated maritime engagement rather than an actual missile launch. Philippine and U.S. personnel practised the process of detecting and tracking a maritime formation before developing a notional BrahMos strike plan. The training was designed to improve coordination between surveillance assets, command elements and coastal missile units.
A major component of the exercise was the use of Hermes unmanned aircraft operated by the Philippine Air Force. The drones were used to monitor a simulated surface group and provide information that could support the targeting process. The scenario featured representations of Chinese naval vessels, including Type 052D destroyers, a Type 054A frigate and a Type 901 fast combat support ship.
The training highlights how unmanned surveillance and long-range anti-ship missiles can be combined as part of an integrated coastal defence network. For the Philippines, this approach is particularly relevant because its armed forces have to protect extensive maritime areas spread across an archipelago.
The Philippines acquired the BrahMos system from India under a deal worth approximately $375 million signed in 2022, becoming the first international customer for the missile. The system provides Manila with a high-speed, land-based anti-ship capability as the country continues to modernise its military and strengthen maritime defence.
The latest exercise also reflects the growing focus of U.S.-Philippine defence cooperation on distributed coastal operations and interoperability. Joint training enables both forces to practise communication, surveillance and operational coordination in conditions that reflect the challenges of defending the Philippine archipelago.
The activity comes amid continuing security tensions in the South China Sea. By connecting drone-based surveillance with BrahMos coastal missile planning, the Philippines is working to develop a more integrated maritime defence capability, while the United States continues to deepen military cooperation with its regional ally.
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