Australia, Philippines launch two-week joint military exercise

The Australian Defence Force has embarked on its largest overseas exercise for 2025 with the launch of Exercise Alon ("wave") 25 in the Philippines on Friday, August 15.

Personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the ADF will train together at locations around the Philippine islands of Palawan and Luzon between Friday and August 29.

More than 3,600 personnel are participating in Exercise Alon 25, including members of the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps’ Marine Rotation Force – Darwin.

The ADF said that, from its first iteration in 2023, Exercise Alon has grown to incorporate training across the maritime, sea and air domains, with essential support from cyber and space domains.

ADF participation this year includes an Australian Amphibious Force Joint Task Force Headquarters, the Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane, an Australian Army combined arms land task group, and an air task group of Royal Australian Air Force Super Hornets, Growlers and Hercules aircraft.

Participating nations will also conduct amphibious landing operations and maritime manoeuvres.

Exercise Alon 25 will involve live fire exercises at military training ranges and in maritime areas. The ADF said these activities will be conducted with due regard to the safety of the participants and wider community, including responsible advance public notification, while ensuring maximum training value.