BRP Antonio Luna joins aircraft carrier defense exercise

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 28, 2022): BRP Antonio Luna joins aircraft carrier defense exercise (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Photo courtesy of Philippine Navy

The Philippine Navy (PN) on Thursday said missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) participated in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise where the Filipino warship and its foreign counterparts helped defend a carrier strike group from a simulated attack.

Navy spokesperson Commander Benjo Negranza said this maneuver is part of the so-called war at sea exercise (WASEX) that took place last July 24 (US time).

"During the WASEX, BRP Antonio Luna, together with other counterpart warships, rehearsed a sustained large-scale live maneuver and the protection of the Carrier Strike Group from opposing forces conducting anti-ship operations for a 48-hour window within a defined, high-density battle space for RIMPAC 2022," he added.

A carrier strike group is a naval formation consisting of an aircraft carrier, its escorting warships, and replenishment vessels.

In the exercise, BRP Antonio Luna searched for and engaged hostile surface warships, Negranza said.

He added that this helped the ship boost its proficiency and communication capability, especially in the conduct of joint interoperability.

"This exercise further developed the PH Navy frigate's capability to defend against maritime threats while working with partner navies, improving interoperability and experience in large-scale formations such as the Carrier Strike Group operations," Negranza added.

The RIMPAC, considered the world's largest maritime exercise, is held biennially to promote regional stability in the Pacific region.

About 25,000 personnel from 26 participating nations are set to participate in the 28th iteration of RIMPAC, which was first conducted in 1971.

This year's RIMPAC began on June 29 and runs until August 4. Negranza earlier said Naval Task Group 80.5 would help develop, maintain and enhance the Navy’s pursuit of maritime collaboration with its counterparts through the exercise.

The PN's participation in RIMPAC 2022, themed “Capable, Adaptive Partners,” will be the third after its maiden participation in 2018 and its sophomore run in 2020.

In the 2018 RIMPAC, the Navy deployed the offshore patrol vessel, the BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), and the landing dock, BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602).

In the 2020 iteration of the maritime exercise, the PN sent the country's first missile frigate, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150).

Both the BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna are capable of anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare operations.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179985