Philippine and United States Army personnel participating in Exercise Balikatan 40-2025 came together at the Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command (NETDC) in Zambales, for a joint formation and activity briefing on April 22, 2025. The early morning event set the stage for a day of collaborative training, emphasizing unity, coordination, and shared mission objectives.
Following the formation, troops from both nations launched into the Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE), focusing on familiarization with the premier shoot-on-the-move air defense platform — the Avenger Air Defense System and its primary armament, the FIM-92 Stinger missile. The Avenger, a highly mobile, short-range air defense system, integrates eight ready-to-fire Stinger missiles mounted on a Humvee, providing rapid target engagement against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems. The Stinger missile, known for its infrared homing guidance and fire-and-forget capability, allows operators to quickly neutralize aerial threats with high precision.
This exchange strengthens tactical synchronization, enhances combined operational readiness, and demonstrates the enduring interoperability and mutual commitment of both forces to regional security and defense preparedness.
