CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), together with the United States Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, and New Zealand Defence Force, conducted a Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise (CLLFX-West) on April 27, 2026 at the Apurawan Beach Landing Site in Aborlan, Palawan, as part of Exercise Balikatan 41–2026.
Led by the Philippine Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Brigade, the exercise simulated a maritime threat involving an enemy amphibious landing along the coastline, showcasing combined forces’ capability to detect, disrupt, and deny hostile elements from establishing a beachhead. The activity demonstrated strong coordination and interoperability among participating forces in a complex littoral environment.
The exercise highlighted a layered, multi-domain defense employing synchronized air, land, and indirect fire assets. The Philippine Air Force deployed FA-50 fighter jets for air interdiction, while U.S. forces provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) capabilities. Ground forces executed mid- to close-range engagements using artillery, mortars, light armored vehicles, anti-armor systems, heavy machine guns, and infantry weapons, supported by precision strikes and reconnaissance.
In addition, a simulated Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) was conducted in Sitio Bubusawin and Sitio Long Point, alongside a community outreach activity in coordination with the local government of Aborlan and Barangay Apurawan, underscoring the AFP’s role in both defense and humanitarian operations.
General Romeo S. Brawner Jr, AFP Chief of Staff witnessed the live fire exercise as one of the distinguished visitors together with Vice Admiral Alan M Javier, Commander of Western Command. Also present were Major General James Bartholomees, Commander of the 25th Infantry Division, US Army; Major General Thomas Savage, Commander of the U.S. JTF for Exercise Balikatan 2026; and Rear Admiral Brent DeVore, Commander of the Expeditionary Strike Group THREE, U.S. Navy.
“The Counter-Landing Live Fire Exercise demonstrates our capability to defend our shores through coordinated, combined arms operations in a littoral environment. By integrating fires from land, air, and maritime forces, we are able to detect, engage, and neutralize potential threats approaching from the sea, ensuring that any attempt to breach our coastline is met with a swift and unified response,” said Marine Colonel Dennis Hernandez, PH Balikatan 41-2026 Spokesperson.
“More importantly, this activity strengthens joint fire support coordination and interoperability among participating forces. Beach defense is not the responsibility of a single unit or domain, it requires seamless integration across services and with our allies. Exercises like this ensure that we are prepared to protect our coastal communities and territorial integrity with precision, speed, and overwhelming coordination,” Col Hernandez added.///
Photos and Videos by: SSG Ambay PA/PAOAFP; 3rd Marine Brigade, Philippine Marine Corps; and Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert, 7th Infantry Division, US Army
