NAVAL OPERATING BASE SUBIC, Zambales — The ongoing Exercise Pagbubuklod 2023 has entered its sea phase on Wednesday, October 25 executing various serialized trainings at the vicinity of Capones Island, San Antonio, Zambales.
Considered as the highlight of this annual unilateral exercise among the different units of the Philippine Fleet (PF), the sea phase saw the convergence of recently-acquired Fleet assets such as frigates BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF151); landing dock BRP Tarlac (LD601); fast attack interdiction crafts (FAIC) BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG902) and BRP Gener Tinangag (PG903); patrol vessels BRP Valentin Diaz (PS177) and BRP Ladislao Diwa (PS178); missile-capable multi-purpose attack crafts (MPAC) from a Boat Attack Division; and Naval Air Wing’s Maritime Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron (MUARS) Flight Bravo.
These assets and personnel carried out exercises and maneuvers in strategic locations to enhance capabilities on Electronic Warfare (EW) Operations, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Air Defense Exercise, Surface Warfare Exercise (SURFEX), High Value Unit (HVU) Protection, Swarm Tactics and Littoral Operations.
Also tested was the communications compatibility of the Fleet assets to the PF headquarters via marine radio, ship-to-air, and ship-to-ground communications toward a seamless interoperability.
These exercises will enable the Fleet to raise its level of readiness and optimize the proper utilization of its modernizing platforms and systems to address traditional and non-traditional challenges. They likewise encourage the Navy personnel to build and improve capacity in manning and handling such a higher level of equipment in the better performance of their duties to the maritime nation.
