The Philippines and Australia kicked off Exercise Alon 25 today, the largest overseas military exercise for Australia in 2025, reinforcing deepening defence ties and regional security cooperation.
Running from August 15 to 29, the bilateral drills bring together more than 3,600 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), alongside contingents from the Royal Canadian Navy and U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Rotation Force – Darwin. Training will span the Palawan and Luzon regions, focusing on amphibious landings, maritime manoeuvres, and air-sea-land coordination.
Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations for the ADF, described the exercise as a reflection of Australia’s commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“Exercise Alon 25 is an opportunity to practise how we collaborate and respond to shared security challenges… and project force over great distances,” said Jones. “It strengthens people-to-people ties and enhances interoperability with our Filipino counterparts.”
The ADF is fielding a full-spectrum joint force, including the HMAS Brisbane, an Amphibious Force Joint Task Force HQ, Army battle group, and an Air Task Group composed of Super Hornets, Growlers, and Hercules aircraft.
Now in its second iteration since launching in 2023, Exercise Alon continues to grow, incorporating live-fire drills, and expanding into cyber and space domains—signifying the evolving complexity of modern defence cooperation.
All activities are being conducted with full regard for safety and public notification.
