Lt. Gen. Galido, joined by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. and other senior military leaders, attended the Air Defense Exercise (ADEX) and the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Exercise.
The drills highlighted the close coordination between the AFP and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, reinforcing mutual defense strategies under the long-standing Balikatan framework.
The air defense exercises are a significant part of the 40th Balikatan Exercise, which this year features a “full battle test” to improve readiness against evolving threats.
Earlier this year, Lt. Gen. Galido announced the Philippine Army’s (PA) plans to procure a short-range air defense system to align with the Army Land Defense Concept and complement the broader Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.
Balikatan, meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Filipino, aims to boost the interoperability and combat readiness of approximately 5,000 Filipino and 9,000 American troops across multiple military domains.
Through continuous participation in subject matter expert exchanges and joint field training, the Philippine Army enhances its capacity to serve as a responsive and capable land force.