Philippine and U.S. Marines to Test Advanced Missile System
The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) are set to test the firepower of the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System during the upcoming Kamandag Exercise next week. This American-made anti-ship missile system will showcase enhanced capabilities for joint maritime defense.
Kamandag, which stands for “Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma Mula sa Dagat,” is an annual bilateral exercise aimed at strengthening interoperability and readiness between the two marine corps. The training focuses on defending archipelagic coastal areas within the Indo-Pacific region.
Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System’s Role in Kamandag
According to military sources, the deployment of the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System is a key part of Kamandag. The joint operations exercise is designed to enable the Philippine Marines to conduct combined missions with allied forces effectively. The system will be used in a maritime strike scheduled for June 1 in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.
However, it remains unclear whether the missile system will be fired live or if the demonstration will involve a dry firing, which simulates the firing process without launching actual ammunition. “Whether it will be fired or not depends on the actual situation or actual criteria that will be met on the day of the maritime strike demonstration,” a military spokesperson said.
Modernization and Training Objectives
The main goal of integrating the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System in the exercise is to familiarize Philippine forces with its operation. This system is among the critical capabilities that the Philippine Navy aims to acquire as part of its ongoing modernization efforts.
Officials have submitted requests to higher defense authorities to include this missile system in the military’s future arsenal. By training with such advanced equipment, the PMC is preparing to enhance its defense posture alongside its allies.
Scope and Scale of Kamandag Exercise
Kamandag began on May 26 at the Marine barracks in Taguig City and will continue until June 6. The exercise involves about 4,000 personnel from both the PMC and USMC training together across several locations. These include areas under the Northern Luzon Command, Western Command, Western Mindanao Command, as well as sites in Cavite and Manila.
Besides the maritime strike, other activities include live fire integration, counter-landing operations, special forces strikes, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive defense exchanges. Senior enlisted leader symposiums also form part of the program.
International Participation and Regional Context
Forces from Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are participating in Kamandag, while observers from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Indonesia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Thailand are also present. This broad coalition underscores the exercise’s importance in regional security cooperation.
Despite previous criticisms from neighboring countries regarding such deployments, officials reaffirmed the Philippines’ sovereign right to conduct joint training with allies. “Walang pakialam and kahit sinong bansa when it comes to the deployment of assets, whether it is our own or if it belongs to our allies,” a military representative stated, emphasizing the commitment to continue these essential exercises.
The Kamandag Exercise and the testing of the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System demonstrate the Philippines’ determination to strengthen its maritime defense capabilities amid evolving regional challenges.
For more news and updates on Kamandag Exercise, visit Filipinokami.com.