PH holds anti-submarine warfare drills with other navies

MANILA, July 30 ------ The navies of the Philippines, Peru, Singapore and the United States held anti-submarine warfare drills on Manila's navy has said.

In a statement, the Philippine Navy said its personnel through BRP Miguel Malvar, Singapore’s RSS Steadfast, USS Paul Hamilton and USS Carl M Levin of the US Navy with onboard MH60-R ASW Helo supported by a P8-A Poseidon Fixed-wing Aircraft, "defended against and successfully prosecuted an enemy diesel-electric submarine."

The "enemy" was simulated by BAP Chipana of the Peruvian Navy during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 at-sea training serials, the Philippine Navy said. The objective of the exercise, it said, was to test and refine common anti-submarine warfare (ASW) tactics by establishing "command and control, a common operating picture, conducting evasive maneuvers, and coordinated attacks against an enemy submarine." "Operating in a realistic combat scenario, multinational ASW-capable ships and aircraft from the Philippines, United States, and Singapore Navies displayed a high degree of interoperability and readiness, successfully defending against a submarine trying to penetrate a tight screen formation to attack a High Value Unit (HVU)," the Philippine Navy said. The Peruvian Navy Type 209/1200 diesel electric submarine, known for its quiet running profile, "effectively searched, approached, and evaded the defending surface ships," it added.

The Philippine Navy said the at-sea training serials demonstrate that a successful ASW mission relies on speed of communication, coordinated response, and teamwork between multiple ASW platforms. By integrating with partner navies, the Philippine Navy said it continues to reinforce its role as "a credible and reliable maritime partner committed to regional peace and security."

Source: news.abs-cbn.com