MANILA, Philippines – Ibinida ng Philippine Army (PA) Artillery Regiment at 25th Infantry Division of the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) ang M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) sa live fire exercise bilang bahagi ng SALAKNIB 2026 sa Canantong, Laur, Nueva Ecija nitong Huwebes, Abril 16.
Ang HIMARS ay isang mobile, multi-launch rocket platform na pinagsama sa isang five-ton truck chassis. Ito ay kamakailang nagamit sa Middle East at Ukraine.
Sa naturang exercise, ginamit sa HIMARS ang anim na reduced-range practice rockets (RRPR) para ipakita ang rapid-fire capabilities nito kasama ang guided projectiles na may distansyang 15 kilometro.
Sinaksihan nina Philippine Army Training Command Commander Major General Michael Logico at USARPAC 25th Infantry Division Deputy Commander Brigadier General Jonathan Velishka ang live firing drills.
“As the Philippine Army shifts to a territorial defense posture, the support from the USARPAC 25th Infantry Division partners provides Philippine troops with crucial capabilities on long-range precision fires (LRPF),” sinabi ng Army.
Ang SALAKNIB Phase 1 ay nakatakda mula Abril 6 hanggang Abril 17.
Bukod sa Pilipinas at Estados Unidos, nakibahagi rin mga drill ang counterparts mula sa Japan Ground Self-Defense Force at Australian Army.
Susundan ang SALAKNIB ng Balikatan Exercise mula Abril hanggang Mayo 2026 at Salaknib Phase 2 mula Mayo hanggang Hunyo 2026. RNT/JGC
