MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) successfully concluded a week-long series of bilateral air exercises on Friday, February 6, 2026, aimed at enhancing interoperability and reinforcing the defense of national airspace.
The engagement, which ran from February 2 to February 6, featured coordinated maneuvers across various sites in Luzon, the West Philippine Sea (WPS), and the Luzon Strait.
Exercise Highlights The drills involved high-level coordination and the deployment of advanced aerial assets:
- Live Drop Exercise (Feb 2): Two PAF FA-50PH fighter jets and two US B-52 strategic bombers conducted a live drop exercise at the Col. Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Tarlac City.
- Air Defense Scenario (Feb 4): Forces conducted maneuvers over the WPS focused on airspace coordination, command-and-control integration, and joint operational response.
- Joint Bomber Air Patrol (Feb 6): The exercise culminated in a combined air patrol over the WPS and the Luzon Strait, highlighting mission planning and operational readiness.
Strategic Support The bilateral activities were supported by other major US commands, including the US Special Operations Command Pacific and the US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. According to PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco, the exercises showcased the ability of the two nations to integrate multi-domain support in safeguarding regional security.
Upholding Sovereignty The PAF emphasized that these combined activities are part of a continuous effort to strengthen defense partnerships. By integrating PAF fighters with US heavy bombers, the exercises provide Filipino pilots with critical experience in large-scale mission planning and long-range coordination.
“The PAF continues to strengthen defense partnerships and reinforce its capability to safeguard national airspace and uphold sovereignty,” Basco said in a statement. The maneuvers also serve as a visible demonstration of the longstanding treaty alliance between the Philippines and the United States amid ongoing maritime and territorial disputes in the region.