PN to join US in 'Balikatan' drills, test C-Star, Spike NLOS, Mistral missiles

The Philippine Navy (PN) will participate in live fire exercises as part of the 'Balikatan' joint military drills with U.S. forces this April.

Vice Admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpeleta emphasized that these drills aim to enhance operational capabilities and validate war-fighting doctrines, improving interoperability against emerging regional security challenges.

The PN will test major missile systems including C-Star surface-to-surface missiles, Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) from Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Mistral surface-to-air missiles from France.

C-Star missiles are designed for targeting enemy vessels at both long and short distances with high precision, while Spike NLOS offers advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors for day and night operations.

The French-made MBDA Mistral 3 surface-to-air missiles will be launched from the Jose Rizal-class guided missile frigates to bolster defensive capabilities against hostile aircraft.