SA pagsikad ng Joint Philippine–U.S Balikatan 38-2023 war exercise ay mabilis na umugong ang balitang nais na masaksihan ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang live fire exercises sa Zambales.
Sa Laging Handa public briefing, sinabi ni Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar na inimbitahan nila si Pangulong Marcos na saksihan ang mga aktibidad subalit hindi umano sila nakakatiyak kung mapagbibigyan sila dahil sa kabila-kabilang schedule nito.
Sa formal opening ng pinakamalaking joint PH-U.S Balikatan exercise na sasalihan ng 17,000 sundalong Kano at Pilipino, inihayag ng AFP na magiging tampok sa sabayang pagsasanay ang live fire exercise partikular dito ang “SINKEX” o sinking exercise kung saan malalantad ang modern weapons platforms and doctrines ng AFP.
“For the AFP, in particular, this year’s ‘Balikatan’ Exercise is most timely, as we fast-track the enhancement of our capabilities for maritime security and domain awareness, as well as our employment concept of newly acquired equipment and weapon systems under our modernization program and application of newly developed doctrines – with the end-in-view of projecting a credible defense posture,” pahayag ni AFP chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino.
Sa nasabing Sinking Exercise ay tatangkaing palubugin ng land, air, and sea asset ng Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force at Philippine Army ang lumang decommissioned Philippine Navy warship BRP Pangasinan PS 31.
Ang nasabing littoral exercise ay paghahanda lamang sa hukbo na makadepensa sakaling may mga puwersang aatake sa bansa.
“We do not just fire into the sea, we have to have a target that, you know for proficiency in firing, you want our artillery guys to fire yes they fire into the water but,…they have to fire at a target that is close to an, closer to what we would expect in actual threat which is an intrusion coming from an adversary by sea, how will they do that, they will do it through a navy ship so we will provide the target and the target to sink is (Philippine Navy) PS 31,” ani Col Michael Lorico, Executive Agent for Balikatan 2023 Philippine side.
Bukod sa HIMARS or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System na gagamitin ng US ay ilalantad din ng AFP ang kanilang mga bagong biling ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzers, 105mm howitzers, S-70i “Black Hawk” helicopters, Embraer A-29 “Super Tucano” attack planes, FA-50 jet fighters, T-129 “Atak” helicopters, SF-260 light bombers, AW109 and MD-520MG light attack helicopters, fast frigate patrol ship at landing docks.
VERLIN RUIZ