In waters off the coast of Laoag, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Armed Forces worked together to sink a decommissioned oil tanker as part of Exercise Balikatan 39-2024.

According to the AFP, it used the Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150). Philippine Air Force’s 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, SSM-700K C-Star anti-ship missiles, and a fast attack interdiction craft armed with Spike missiles to attack the China-made MT Lake Caliraya.

The US, meanwhile, used the following units: U.S. Air Force’s 13th Fighter Squadron, flying F-16 Fighting Falcons, Marine Air Control Squadron-4, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment operating a TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar; Marine Air Control Group 38; 16th Special Operations Squadron, 27th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, flying the AC-130J Ghostrider, and U.S. Navy VP-10 flying the P-8A Poseidon.

The Australian Air Force No. 2 Squadron also joined the exercise.

Related stories: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/navy-says-sinking-china-made-ship-balikatan-2024-coincidental/

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/view-from-manila-balikatan-war-games-west-sea/

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