On August 15, 2025, one of Australia’s largest overseas military drills kicked off in the Philippines. Exercise Alon 25, which will run until August 29 on the islands of Palawan and Luzon, brings together over 3,600 troops from Australia, the Philippines, Canada, and the United States. Originally conceived as a bilateral activity between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the drill is reinforced by the U.S. Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) and the Royal Canadian Navy. Its primary objective is to boost interoperability, enhance readiness, and demonstrate credible force projection in the Indo-Pacific region.
First organized in 2023, Exercise Alon has since evolved into a recurring event, symbolizing the growing strategic partnership between Canberra and Manila. The word “Alon,” meaning “wave” in Tagalog, represents the two nations’ shared commitment to sovereignty protection, adherence to international law, and freedom from coercion in decision-making.
For this year’s edition, Australia deployed 1,600 personnel supported by extensive land, air, and naval assets. Joint Task Force 661 has been established at Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, working closely with the Philippine Western Command. The deployment includes the Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane, F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, C-130J Hercules, C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft, and M777 howitzers. Meanwhile, the AFP contributes 1,525 troops, FA-50PH and A-29 aircraft, T-129 ATAK and Blackhawk helicopters, a Jose Rizal-class frigate, and a Marine brigade.
Canada has joined the drill with the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ville de Québec and 180 personnel, while the United States has sent 350 Marines and an MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Training activities include amphibious landings, integration of special forces, joint cyber resilience efforts, civil-military and cultural engagements, as well as live-fire exercises at sea and on land.
Exercise Alon 25 stands as the most extensive joint force projection Australia has conducted in the region in recent years. With strong participation from the Philippines, Canada, and the United States, the exercise highlights the rising importance of regional defense cooperation and reaffirms the commitment of partner nations to a stable, rules-based Indo-Pacific order.
