PH-US forces hold live-fire exercise in Zambales, Ilocos Norte

Philippine and United States troops conducted a live fire exercise off the coast of Zambales and Ilocos Norte as part of the annual Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA).

In a statement from the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) on Sunday, units from the US Marine Corps (USMC) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a live-fire event off the coast of Camp Bojeador in Ilocos Norte and in waters to the west of Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command (NETDC) in Zambales.

MASA is a joint PH-US military exercise in the Philippines, which focuses on “mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts”.

This year’s MASA is being conducted from June 3 until 21. 

On the ground, Philippine Marines used ground-based artillery to engage staged maritime targets made of wood and concrete in waters four nautical miles due west of Camp Bojeador.

US Marines, meanwhile,  provided fire coordination support to PMC forces as they engaged the targets “to increase bilateral coordination and proficiency among U.S.-Philippine forces”.

In Zambales, USMC F-35B Lightning II multi-role stealth fighters operating out of Clark Air Base in Pampanga conducted air strikes on simulated maritime targets in waters three nautical miles west of NETDC.

"Philippine unmanned aerial systems supported both live-fire events to increase maritime domain awareness capabilities and to ensure the safe execution of the training events,” I MEF said.

Authorities said that the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and air traffic control authorities cleared and blocked the areas used for the training prior to the live-fire events to ensure that "no one was affected in the impact area". — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News