Still Image: During a simultaneous sense, target, strike and destroy of a decommissioned tanker off the western coast of the Northern Luzon, May 8, 2024. (Image source: DVIDS)
In a move sending ripples across the South China Sea, the Philippine Navy sank a decommissioned tanker with a C-Star anti-ship cruise missile during the recent Balikatan 2024 war games.
This dramatic display of firepower, which occurred last Wednesday (May 8) morning, marked the culmination of the two-week exercise that saw the Philippines, the United States, and Australia honing their combined military capabilities in the disputed waters.
Sharpening Naval Teeth: The C-Star Missile and Beyond
Beyond the spectacle of the sinking Balikatan, 2024 signaled a significant shift in the Philippines’ military posture.
This year’s iteration, the largest and most complex in recent memory, showcased a multi-pronged approach:
Sharpened Naval Teeth
The Philippine Navy’s successful deployment of the C-Star missile (SSM-700K)—fired off the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150)—marked a turning point.
This live-fire exercise demonstrated their growing capacity for long-range deterrence, potentially altering the regional balance of power.
WATCH: BRP Lake Caliraya sunk at exactly 10:49 a.m. after being pounded for two hours by anti-ship missiles, air to ground missile, and guided bomb units fired from naval and aerial assets of the Philippines and US. | via Patrick de Jesus (1/2) pic.twitter.com/OyYIIMTeiY
In a move sending ripples across the South China Sea, the Philippine Navy sank a decommissioned tanker with a C-Star anti-ship cruise missile during the recent Balikatan 2024 war games.
This dramatic display of firepower, which occurred last Wednesday (May 8) morning, marked the culmination of the two-week exercise that saw the Philippines, the United States, and Australia honing their combined military capabilities in the disputed waters.
Sharpening Naval Teeth: The C-Star Missile and Beyond
Beyond the spectacle of the sinking Balikatan, 2024 signaled a significant shift in the Philippines’ military posture.
This year’s iteration, the largest and most complex in recent memory, showcased a multi-pronged approach:
Sharpened Naval Teeth
The Philippine Navy’s successful deployment of the C-Star missile (SSM-700K)—fired off the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150)—marked a turning point.
This live-fire exercise demonstrated their growing capacity for long-range deterrence, potentially altering the regional balance of power.
WATCH: BRP Lake Caliraya sunk at exactly 10:49 a.m. after being pounded for two hours by anti-ship missiles, air to ground missile, and guided bomb units fired from naval and aerial assets of the Philippines and US. | via Patrick de Jesus (1/2) pic.twitter.com/OyYIIMTeiY
The exercise heavily emphasized real-time data sharing and joint targeting operations.
Philippine P-8 Poseidons, Australian E-7A Wedgetails, and US F-16s worked in concert, feeding crucial data to a central command center.
This seamless coordination between land, sea, and air assets signifies a more integrated approach to modern warfare.
Expanded Training Scope
Previous Balikatan exercises primarily focused on internal security threats.
This year, the drills expanded into the strategically sensitive South China Sea and the Luzon Strait near Taiwan, reflecting growing regional tensions.
A Message of Deterrence in the South China Sea
The timing of Balikatan 2024 couldn’t be more significant.
China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea, where it claims vast swathes of disputed territory, have raised concerns among Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.
The successful sinking of the decommissioned BRP Lake Caliraya (AF-81) serves as a potent deterrent, demonstrating the Philippines’ ability to defend its maritime interests.
“This exercise was about showcasing the collective might of our combined forces,” said Marine Col. Douglas Krugman, the US director of Balikatan’s command center. “We practiced seamlessly sharing sensor data and targeting information to take down a simulated adversary.”
A United Front Against Regional Challenges
The inclusion of the United States and Australia in Balikatan underscores a growing regional security alliance. The exercise serves as a clear message of solidarity in the face of Chinese assertiveness.
🧵1) Amazing footage of 🇵🇭 Philippine Navy's historic firing of anti-ship cruise missile during exercise #Balikatan2024
The participation of US F-16s and Australian early warning aircraft bolstered the Philippines’ air defense capabilities, while the involvement of US Marines and Australian special forces troops enhanced combined ground operations.
Looking Forward: Building on Balikatan’s Momentum
Balikatan 2024 isn’t an isolated event.
It marks the beginning of a summer of increased joint military activities between the Philippines and the US. This continuous engagement reinforces their longstanding defense partnership and sends a strong signal of deterrence to potential aggressors.
The success of Balikatan 2024 validates the Philippines’ new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, which emphasizes defending the nation’s entire territory, including its exclusive economic zone.
It also highlights the crucial role of allies like the US and Australia in maintaining regional security.
As the strategic landscape in the South China Sea continues to evolve, Balikatan 2024 serves as a testament to the Philippines’ commitment to its national defense.
The exercise showcased their growing military capabilities, their adeptness in collaborating with allies, and their unwavering resolve to protect their territorial integrity in a region rife with tension.
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