Defence has launched its largest overseas exercise for 2025, Exercise Alon 25, in the Philippines today. Personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will train together across Palawan and Luzon from 15–29 August.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO CSC, RAN, said Exercise Alon 25 demonstrated the strength of the Australian-Philippines security partnership.
“We’re proud to conduct our largest overseas exercise with the Philippines, and continue to build on our close cooperation,” Vice Admiral Jones 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.”
He added that the exercise reflects Australia’s commitment to working with partners to ensure a region where state sovereignty is protected, international law is followed, and nations can make decisions free from coercion.
More than 3,600 personnel are participating, including members of the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps’ Marine Rotation Force – Darwin.
Since its first iteration in 2023, Exercise Alon has grown to include training across maritime, land, and air domains, with essential support from cyber and space domains.
ADF participation in 2025 includes:
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Australian Amphibious Force Joint Task Force Headquarters
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Navy’s Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane
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Army Combined Arms Land Task Group
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Air Task Group of Super Hornets, Growlers, and Hercules aircraft
The exercise will see the ADF practise joint force projection through a mass airlift of an Army battle group, including armoured, engineering, health, and artillery elements. Participating nations will also conduct amphibious landing operations and maritime manoeuvres.
“The value of this training comes from the people-to-people links and the opportunity to exchange practices when we conduct an Exercise of this scale,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“We will come away with experience that enhances our interoperability with the Philippines and ensures we can work together in support of regional security.”
Exercise Alon 25 will include live fire exercises at military training ranges and maritime areas. Activities will prioritise participant and community safety, including responsible advance public notification, while ensuring maximum training value.
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