By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA—The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Friday night that it has conducted a maritime cooperative activity (MCA) with the French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group.
In a statement, military public affairs office chief, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, said this marks the AFP’s third consecutive week of joint maritime activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), within the joint operational area of Northern Luzon Command.
AFP assets deployed for this MCA include the missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), offshore patrol vessel BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15), a C-90 patrol aircraft, two FA-50PH light jet fighters, and Philippine Air Force search-and-rescue units.
On the French Navy side, the military assets include aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R-91), Aquitaine-class frigate Provence (D-652), force supply vessel Jacques Chevallier (A-725), Horizon-class air defense destroyer Forbin (D-620), and another Aquitaine-class frigate, Alsace (D-656), participated in the exercise.
Trinidad said the AFP and the French Navy collaborated in a series of activities designed to enhance their interoperability, communication, and defense capabilities.
“The series of drills include communications check exercise (COMMEX), division tactics/officer of the watch (DIVTACS/OOW) maneuvers, photo exercise (PHOTOEX), replenishment at sea, personnel exchange through rigid hull inflatable boats, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and dissimilar aircraft combat training,” he added.
The successive conduct of MCA with other like-minded nations underscores the growing international focus on maritime security in the WPS and aims to strengthen interoperability and defense capabilities among ally and partner nations.
“Through joint maritime cooperative activities and collaborative efforts, the AFP seeks to build a stronger, more resilient defense system that is prepared to address the challenges of the modern security landscape,” AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said. (PNA)
