PH Navy shows comms, other capabilities in SEACAT

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 20, 2021): PH Navy shows comms, other capabilities in SEACAT (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Photo courtesy of Naval Public Affairs Office

The Philippine Navy (PN) has successfully demonstrated communications, detection and interoperability capabilities during this year's Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT).

"The exercise scenarios for the PN happened on August 15 and 17, 2021 beginning in the northern seas of Palawan going down along the east coast of Puerto Princesa in the Sulu Sea," Naval Forces West (NFW) public affairs office chief, Lt. Mark Louwie Ramos said in a statement Thursday night.

Participating PN units included the brand-new missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), the patrol craft BRP Nestor Reinoso (PC-380), an AW-109 helicopter, and an Islander aircraft -- all of which are assigned to the NFW.

The scenarios exercised the PN’s air, surface, and ground communication capabilities; established new concepts and framework in a combined/inter-agency C4ISR.

C4ISR stands for Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).

Also tested were enhanced maritime domain awareness through the integration of PN and Philippine Coast Guard's capabilities on surface tracking, aerial surveillance, coastal radar, and automatic identification system to detect and intercept vessels of interest; and developed interoperability with foreign surveillance aircraft such as the P-8 Poseidon of the US Navy.

"The Philippine Navy achieved its mission to test and enhance its capability and related doctrines on maritime information exchange and convey our commitment to maintaining good rapport and cooperation among regional navies," Ramos said.

The SEACAT, which started last Aug. 10 in Singapore, will formally end on Friday. It was launched by the US Navy and 20 other partner nations, including the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151071