The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have begun Exercise Alon 25, the ADF’s largest overseas military activity for 2025. The exercise runs from 15 to 29 August in locations across the Philippine islands of Palawan and Luzon.
More than 3,600 personnel are taking part, including members of the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Marine Corps’ Marine Rotation Force – Darwin. Training will cover maritime, land, air, cyber, and space operations, with activities such as amphibious landings, maritime manoeuvres, and live fire exercises.
“We’re proud to conduct our largest overseas exercise with the Philippines, and continue to build on our close cooperation,” Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations, said. “Exercise Alon 25 is an opportunity for us to practise how we collaborate and respond to shared security challenges, and project force over great distances in the Indo-Pacific.”
“This exercise reflects Australia’s commitment to working with partners to ensure we maintain a region where state sovereignty is protected, international law is followed, and nations can make decisions free from coercion,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
ADF participation includes the Australian Amphibious Force Joint Task Force Headquarters, the Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane, an Army combined arms task group, and an air task group featuring Super Hornets, Growlers, and Hercules aircraft. A mass airlift will move an Army battle group with armoured, engineering, health, and artillery units.
Exercise Alon was first held in 2023 and has since expanded to include a wider range of joint operations. Live fire activities will be conducted with safety measures and public notifications in place.
Exercise ALON 25. This B-roll vision comprised existing cleared vision from Exercise ALON 23; Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P); Exercise Pitch Black 24 and various Air Force air-to-air activities; Exercise Talisman Sabre 25; Exercise Balikatan 25; Exercise Predator’s Run; and various Maritime Cooperative Activities with the Philippines Navy. Video Credit: Australian Defence Force
