WATCH: Philippine, US troops sink decommissioned ship in Balikatan 2024 exercise

In waters off the coast of Laoag, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Armed Forces worked together to sink a decommissioned oil tanker as part of Exercise Balikatan 39-2024.

According to the AFP, it used the Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150). Philippine Air Force’s 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, SSM-700K C-Star anti-ship missiles, and a fast attack interdiction craft armed with Spike missiles to attack the China-made MT Lake Caliraya.

The US, meanwhile, used the following units: U.S. Air Force’s 13th Fighter Squadron, flying F-16 Fighting Falcons, Marine Air Control Squadron-4, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment operating a TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar; Marine Air Control Group 38; 16th Special Operations Squadron, 27th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, flying the AC-130J Ghostrider, and U.S. Navy VP-10 flying the P-8A Poseidon.

The Australian Air Force No. 2 Squadron also joined the exercise.

Related stories: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/navy-says-sinking-china-made-ship-balikatan-2024-coincidental/

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/view-from-manila-balikatan-war-games-west-sea/

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