Naval and air units from the Philippines, the United States, and Canada recently wrapped up a two-day joint military exercise in the Sulu Sea aimed at boosting operational coordination and regional maritime security.
The 20th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA), which took place on September 12 and 13, involved joint maneuvers and strategic exercises among the three partner nations.
According to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office Chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the drills focused on boosting tactical interoperability, domain awareness, and real-time information sharing.
“The successful activity underscored the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening partnerships with like-minded countries and enhancing collective capabilities in support of a secure and rules-based maritime environment,” Trinidad stated.
The exercise involved a varied array of sea and air assets. The Philippine military dispatched the guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang (FFG7), alongside a Sokol search-and-rescue helicopter and a Black Hawk utility chopper, supported by the Philippine Coast Guard’s patrol vessel BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406).
International partners deployed the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334) from Canada and a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft from the U.S. Pacific Command.
Throughout the two-day engagement, participating units executed communications drills, division tactics, officer-of-the-watch maneuvers, and maritime domain awareness operations to refine multi-platform coordination.
Trinidad reiterated that the AFP will continue to broaden collaborative maritime efforts with international partners to maintain regional stability and uphold a rules-based order at sea.