The Australian Defense Forces began on Friday, August 15, their largest military exercise abroad from 2025, with the launch of the Exercise Alon 25 in the Philippines.
The operation was highlighted in a video published by the Operations Command in X (@HQJOC), which shows the beginning of the activities in the Palawan and Luzón Islands.
Strategic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
The training will take place between August 15 and 29, gathering military from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defense Forces (ADF), in addition to members of the Royal Navy of Canada and the United States Marines’ body through the Marine Rotation Force – Darwin.
The Chief of Joint Operations of Australia, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO CSC, RAN, stressed that the exercise symbolizes the solidity of the Security Association between Australia and the Philippines.
“We are proud to carry out our greatest exercise abroad with the Philippines and continue strengthening our cooperation. Exercise Alon 25 is an opportunity to practice how to respond together to shared security challenges and project long-distance power in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
According to him, the operation reinforces Australia’s commitment to work with its partners to guarantee a free, sovereign and based on international standards.
Growth from 2023
Since its first edition in 2023, the Exercise Alon has expanded to include training in multiple domains: maritime, terrestrial, aerial, as well as support in cyber -defense and space operations.
This year, Australian participation includes a joint headquarters of the Joint Amphibian Force, the Destroyer HMAS Brisbane (Hobart class), a group of combined land tasks and an air group composed of Super Hornet fighters, Growler electronic war aircraft and Hercules transport aircraft.
Among the outstanding aspects is the massive air transport of an army fighting group, composed of armored units, engineering, sanitary and artillery. Anfibian operations and joint maritime maneuvers are also planned.
+ See the full video
Interoperability and regional security
Vice Admiral Jones stressed that the greatest value of the exercise lies in ties between the military and in the exchange of practices:
“We will leave the Exercise Alon 25 with experience that will improve our interoperability with the Philippines and ensure that we can act together in favor of regional security.”
The activities also include real shooting exercises in military training and maritime areas, carried out under strict security protocols, with notices prior to the public and with an approach in maximizing the operational value.
SOURCE AND IMAGES: OPERATIONS COMMAND, X @HQJOC | defence.gov.au. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
