Major exercise in the Philippines
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) demonstrated their ability to deliver integrated and destructive firepower.
CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers from Battlegroup Ram fire a M777A2 howitzer during Exercise Alon in the Philippines. Story by Major Tom Maclean. Photo by Sergeant Roger Tang.
The two nations fired live ammunition from many different weapons systems during the final days of Exercise Alon in the Philippines.
Australian Army artillery gunners fired 120 rounds from two 155mm M777 howitzers, and soldiers fired Javelin anti-tank missiles and the 25mm main gun on Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV).
At the same time, the Philippine Army employed its Artillery Regiment ATMOS 155mm self-propelled howitzers and 105mm howitzers.
A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet delivered close air support alongside Philippine A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft, AW-109 helicopters and a T-129 ATAK helicopter gunship.
In the days leading up to the live-fire exercise, Australian and Philippine soldiers learnt quickly to fight side by side. In only five days, Australian 81mm mortar operators trained Philippine soldiers on their processes to form integrated mortar teams.
The live-fire drill was based on a fictional scenario, with troops conducting counter-landing engagements to stop an invading enemy land force moving across the Philippines.
CAPTION: Integrated mortar teams from the Philippines Army and 8th/9th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (8/9RAR) conduct a fire mission at Fort Magsaysay in the Philippines during Exercise ALON 25. Photo by Corporal Adam Abela.
Australian and Philippine artillery observers waded through rivers and climbed towering hilltops to get above the dense Philippine jungle. From the high ground they spotted the fictional enemy force and called in high-explosive rounds that accurately hit and destroyed targets 11 kilometres from the artillery gunline.
Exercise Alon was the largest airlift of ADF personnel and vehicles since the 1999 East Timor deployment.
It was also the first time the Australian Army’s 102 ‘Coral’ Artillery Battery had fired live rounds overseas in more than 50 years.
The live-fire exercise took place near Fort Ramon Magsaysay in the north-east of the Philippines.
CAPTION: Australian and Philippine Army soldiers conduct a combined arms live fire exercise at Fort Magsaysay in the Philippines during Exercise Alon. Photo by Corporal Adam Abela.
Commanding Officer of the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and Battlegroup Ram, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Raven, said it was an important milestone for the strategic partnership.
“This shows we can deploy a combat-ready and combat-capable force within the Indo-Pacific to assist a key security partner such as the Philippines,” Lieutenant Colonel Raven said.
Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Lieutenant General Antonio G. Nafarrete, said the drills tested the integration of fire support from both armies under realistic conditions.
“Even in bad weather or in actual combat, these systems can fire effectively. What we are really working on here is interoperability – how to plan and execute joint scenarios with our Australian counterparts,” Lieutenant General Nafarrete said.
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