PN, US Navy conduct live-fire exercise off Zambales

Personnel from the Philippine Navy (PN) and United States Navy conducted a live-fire gunnery exercise off the coast of Zambales on Friday as part of Balikatan 2025.

The exercise involved ships such as the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, BRP Conrado Yap, USS Savannah, USS Comstock, and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang.

During the Gunnex, participants used .50 caliber guns to refine naval surface warfare tactics and improve communication interoperability; a separate fire drill was also held aboard guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal on the same day.

The PN successfully demonstrated its Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) missile system with direct hits on targets 24 km away, showcasing superior firepower and tactical maneuvering in real-world scenarios.

This year's Balikatan exercises began on April 21 and will continue until May 12, with the Multilateral Maritime Event running from April 24 to 29.