MANILA, Philippines – KINOMPLETO ng Pilipinas, Estados Unidos at at Australia ang weeklong maritime activity sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) naglalayong palakasin ang kooperasyon at koordinasyon sa hanay ng armed forces.
Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na ang 19th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) ay idinaos mula Agosto 19 hanggang 25.
Tampok sa nasabing aktibidad ang serye ng maritime at air operations na dinisenyo para palakasin ang abilidad ng tatlong bansa na sama-samang mag-operate bilang suporta sa ‘free, open, at secure Indo-Pacific.
“A one-week activity successfully enhanced maritime interoperability and operational coordination among the participating forces through a series of complex maritime and air operations designed to strengthen their capability to operate seamlessly together in support of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific,” ayon sa AFP.
Sa ulat, dineploy ng Pilipinas ang BRP Diego Silang (FFG-7) ng Philippine Navy, isang AW109 helicopter, Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter aircraft, isang C-208B aircraft, at isang Sokol search-and-rescue helicopter. Kasama rin ang Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sa aktibidad sa pamamagitan ng pagde-deploy sa BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701).
Samantala, dineploy ng Estados Unidos ang USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32) at P-8A Poseidon aircraft, habang nagpartisipa naman ang Australia bitbit ang HMAS Supply (A-195), isang MH-60R helicopter, at P-8A aircraft.
Sa kabilang dako, ang mga isinagawang advanced maritime interoperability exercises ay:
Communications Exercises (COMMEX)
Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Replenishment at Sea (RAS)
Division Tactics (DIVTACS)/Officer of the Watch (OOW) Maneuvers
Photo Exercise (PHOTOEX)
fly-by operations
Kaya nga sinabi ng AFP na “the successful completion of the 19th MMCA underscores the enduring commitment of the Philippines, the United States, and Australia to strengthening defense cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and promoting peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region.” KRIS JOSE
