Balikatan troops fire long-range multiple rockets for first time

American troops have used the long-range multiple rocket system in Crow Valley for the first time during the Balikatan exercises.

A video of the US Marines from 2nd Platoon, Fox Battery, 14th Marine Regiment firing six reduced-range practice rockets on Monday was posted on the US Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System.

The Balikatan 2016, the bilateral drills of the Philippines and the United States, formally opened on Monday at Camp Aguinaldo. It will be held from April 4 to 15.

The HIMARS or the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is a US light multiple rocket launcher mounted on a standard Army medium tactical vehicle truck frame. It can carry six rockets.

Inert rocket rounds will be used for the HIMARS during the Balikatan.

“It is an opportunity to test, to experiment on systems that may be utilized to develop our capabilities. We’re not saying this is the one we will acquire, we are just testing it … If we see that this has a future in our modernization, we may consider acquiring it,” said Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Santiago, assistant exercise director for the Philippines, after the opening ceremonies.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter will personally observe the use of HIMARS next week in Crow Valley, highlighting the importance of the annual bilateral exercises.

Officials have repeatedly said that the Balikatan exercises are not aimed against China or any country.

Almost 9,000 combined troops will participate in the two-week exercises, which include humanitarian assistance and disaster response, civil military and combat operations.