US and Philippine Forces Conduct Live-Fire Coastal Combat Drills

Truck-mounted launchers blasted off rockets Thursday (13/10/2022), and US stealth fighter jets streaked across the northern Philippine sky in a combat drill, and latest display of American firepower in a region, where Washington has tried to deter what it warns as China's growing aggression.

The live-fire exercises in a gunnery and bombing range in a desolate valley in Capas town in Tarlac Province, North of Manila was the highlight of two weeks of combat readiness maneuvers. Which included mock amphibious assaults, and joint coastal defense tactics, involving more than two 2,500 American and Philippine marines.

America's high-mobility artillery rocket system, or Himars rocket launchers, which have recently helped Ukraine gain momentum in its war with Russia. And F-35B supersonic fighter jets were showcased in the exercises on Wednesday and Thursday.

The combat maneuvers. However, were being held at a time when Washington has more sternly warned Beijing. Against its increasing hostile actions against Taiwan, and rival Claimant states in the South China Sea.