Troops from the Philippines, United States, Australia, and Japan are conducting joint multi-domain operations drills in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, as part of the second phase of Exercise Salaknib 2026.
The Philippine Army said the training is being held under the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable, or JPMRC-X, which runs from May 8 to 20 and forms a key component of this year’s Salaknib exercises.
Participating forces include the Philippine Army, US Army Pacific, Australian Army, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
The drills are designed to sharpen interoperability among allied and partner ground forces through realistic training scenarios conducted across challenging terrain.
Military officials said the exercise allows participating troops to improve coordination, command-and-control procedures, and operational readiness in a multi-domain environment.
Exercise Salaknib is a large-scale land warfare training activity aimed at strengthening the Philippine Army’s ability to respond to evolving security threats and enhance the country’s land defense capabilities.
The Philippine Army leadership commended the participating troops for their commitment to building stronger coordination and improving their ability to operate together in various combat scenarios.
Officials said the participation of multinational partners underscores the growing defense cooperation among like-minded forces and their shared commitment to regional stability and collective readiness.