By Chelsea Robin | 2026-05-20

The Philippines demonstrated its commitment to strengthening its self-reliant defense posture (SRDP) through specialized capability training and the deployment of unmanned systems during Exercise Balikatan 2026.

The Maritime Strike North (MARSTRK) event was a key live-fire exercise, where U.S. and Philippine forces employed kinetic unmanned systems against a vessel in coordinated strikes from air, land, and sea.

Ship sinking

U.S. and Philippine special operations forces conducted MARSTRK off the western coast of Itbayat, Philippines, on April 24.

Combined air and maritime assets engaged and sank a designated target vessel in a multi-domain operation, demonstrating the lethality, precision and interoperability of allied forces. The training underscored both nations' shared commitment to regional security and deterrence through readiness.

The efforts were commanded and controlled by a Combined Joint Operations Center established by Philippine and U.S. personnel.

The exercise area was chosen to accommodate longer-range engagements and to meet environmental requirements, including sufficient ocean depth. The sunk vessel was designated to serve as an artificial reef, promoting marine biodiversity and benefiting surrounding coastal communities.

"We will evaluate and assess how the vessel sinks, and from that we develop techniques, tactics and procedures," Balikatan spokesperson Col. Dennis Hernandez told the Daily Tribune.

Unmanned strike

A defining feature of MARSTRK was the U.S.-Philippine employment of kinetic unmanned surface vessels -- specifically Ukraine's Magura, an expendable One-Way Attack (OWA) kamikaze-style drone with a proven combat record.

U.S. special operations forces deployed Magura unmanned surface vessels to deliver shaped charges against the hull of the target vessel, puncturing it and degrading its structural integrity ahead of follow-on strikes.

The Magura is a highly autonomous, modular platform that has struck more than a dozen Russian warships in the Black Sea and logged hundreds of missions, from area denial to kinetic strike packages and underwater reconnaissance. It went 5-for-5 against NATO Blue Forces at the REPMUS 2025 exercise.

The OWA variant shown at MARSTRK mirrors asymmetrical capabilities used in contemporary global conflicts to neutralize larger naval targets at a fraction of conventional cost.

Modernized drills

The employment of kinetic unmanned surface vessels at MARSTRK marks a significant evolution of Exercise Balikatan from traditional reconnaissance and conventional fires to active, expendable strike platforms.

Following the Magura hull breach, Philippine air force A-29B Super Tucano aircraft delivered ordnance from the air, synchronizing effects across domains in a single firing sequence. They sank the the target vessel.

"The ability of U.S. and Philippine forces to integrate seamlessly during a complex event like [MARSTRK] is critical to maintaining readiness across competitions, crisis, and conflict," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey VanAntwerp, commander of Special Operations Command Pacific.

"Every opportunity we train together strengthens our alliance, improves our combined capabilities, and reinforces credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific."

"[MARSTRK] reflects the trust and shared purpose between our forces," said Maj. Gen. Rosendo Abad, commander, Joint Special Operations Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"By training in realistic scenarios, we are building a more responsive force, one ready to defend our sovereignty and ensure regional stability."

The U.S. P-8 Poseidon and Philippine C-208 Caravan provided persistent overwatch and real-time intelligence feeds to a combined command and control node, enabling shared situational awareness throughout the operation.

Defense buildup

The Magura's employment at MARSTRK reflects a broader Philippine strategy to leverage asymmetrical unmanned systems for territorial defense.

Manila has been in negotiations for production of naval drones. The Philippine military has expressed particular interest in the Magura amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

The Philippine navy is advancing homegrown development. In partnership with Cebu Technological University, it is building two autonomous vessels: the aerial Hybrid Marine-Air Vehicle and the sea-based Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship.

Unmanned systems are among the government's top priorities under SRDP, alongside powder production and the maintenance, repair and overhaul of existing defense assets.

The successful use of kinetic unmanned surface vessels at MARSTRK validates the modernization of Exercise Balikatan and demonstrates that the Philippines is equipping itself to protect its territorial integrity in an increasingly contested maritime environment.