Navy joins replenishment at sea, air exercises for Balikatan

In this photo taken on April 23, 2023, US soldiers fold a US flag and Philippine flag at Subic Bay Freeport Zone as part of the US-Philippines joint military exercise called Balikatan. (File. photo by  JAM STA ROSA | Agence France-Presse)

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine Navy joined a simulated replenishment at sea exercise with the United States Indo-Pacific Command and the French Navy last Friday, according to an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) statement issued on Saturday.

The exercise — a part of the Multilateral Maritime Exercise (MME) in the West Philippine Sea — simulates how vessels can resupply in open waters without visiting ports.

READ: ‘Balikatan’ on; AFP sees China shadowing drills

Among the vessels that participated in the exercise were the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, BRP Davao del Sur, FS Vendemiaire, and the USS Harpers Ferry.

On the same day, the Philippine Marines and the United States Marine Corps conducted an air assault exercise on Balabac Island, Palawan for the Balikatan exercises.

READ: Philippines, US launch annual Balikatan war games

The air assault exercise, which used the USMC CH53E Super Stallion, trained the participants in deploying on a designated zone.

The MME is part of the 38th Balikatan exercises which started on April 22.