As part of the combined Balikatan 25 exercises, U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 will carry out the sinking of a former Philippine Navy corvette in the South China Sea. The ship, originally built during World War II, has been retired from service since 2021. According to official information, the event will be designated Maritime Strike and, in addition to the USMC aircraft, will involve units from the Australian Defence Force and their Filipino counterparts.
It is worth noting that the U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets participating in this activity recently took part in Exercise Cope Thunder 2025. Organized by the U.S. and Philippine Air Forces, Cope Thunder primarily focused on advancing logistical cooperation and air combat training. This year marked the first time that USMC aircraft were integrated into the exercise, which is held annually. Notably, the F/A-18s operated alongside F-16 fighters assigned to U.S. Air Force units deployed across the Pacific, with Clark Air Base serving as a primary operating location.
Regarding the number of aircraft involved in Balikatan 25, specialized outlet USNI News reported that the forces did not provide precise figures. However, it is estimated that approximately eight F/A-18 fighters have been deployed to the area. This inference is based on imagery released from the recent Cope Thunder exercises, which also showed the presence of at least twelve U.S. Air Force F-16 fighters—a figure later confirmed by General David W. Allvin, the current U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff.
Looking briefly at the recent history of Balikatan exercises, there are relevant precedents concerning maritime strike and sinking drills similar to those planned this year. For instance, in 2023, U.S. and Philippine forces conducted attacks on the former corvette Pangasinan (transferred to Manila in 1948), involving not only air units but also coastal artillery. In 2024, the SINKEX exercise stood out as the first occasion in which the Philippine Navy used an anti-ship missile instead of the usual laser-guided bombs, targeting a China-built tanker.
Finally, regarding the ship selected for this year’s exercise, it has been confirmed as the BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19), a vessel originally built in 1944 as USS Brattleboro (PCE(R)-852). After serving in the Republic of Vietnam Navy, the ship was transferred to the Philippines following the fall of Saigon (then the capital of South Vietnam) to forces of the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam and the People’s Army of Vietnam in 1975. It was then converted into a corvette and served in the Philippine Navy until 2021.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
You may also like: The U.S. Marine Corps has begun deploying its new NMESIS anti-ship missile system on the strategic island of Luzon
