Philippine Navy tests Mistral 3 missiles

The Philippine Navy announced on Tuesday that its flagship guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal successfully fired two MBDA Mistral 3 surface-to-air missiles off the coast of San Antonio, Zambales on Monday.

During the test-firing, which was witnessed by naval officials in real-time from Subic, both drone targets provided by the US Indo-Pacific Command were hit accurately, validating a new capability for the Philippine Navy and Armed Forces.

The live firing, conducted as a separate activity of the Philippine Fleet rather than part of Balikatan 2025 exercises, demonstrated the Navy's commitment to modernizing its defense systems in line with its upcoming 127th anniversary celebration this May.

Supporting vessels included BRP Antonio Luna, Scan Eagle ISR UAS, missile gunboat BRP Albert Majini, and coastal patrol vessel BRP Rafael Pargas.

Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Joe Anthony Orbe and his unit commanders monitored the exercise through various Command and Control Systems, showcasing the Navy's resolve to strengthen its archipelagic defense.