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U.S. Navy's USS Dewey Destroyer Leads U.S.-Philippine Maritime Drills in Indo-Pacific.
The United States Navy and Philippine maritime forces sailed in coordinated formation inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone during Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity 26-2.2. The operation highlights deepening U.S.-Philippine interoperability and signals combined sea control capability in contested Indo-Pacific waters.
On February 25, 2026, the United States Navy and Philippine maritime forces demonstrated coordinated sea control operations in the Philippine Sea as the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Dewey sailed alongside BRP Antonio Luna and BRP Gabriela Silang within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. Conducted under Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity 26-2.2, the maneuver featured integrated surface formation steaming and communications drills designed to strengthen interoperability between the two treaty allies. The operation reflects Washington and Manila’s accelerating operational alignment amid rising maritime tensions in the Indo-Pacific and underscores a shared commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and maritime security in strategically sensitive waters.
USS Dewey and two Philippine vessels conducted a coordinated formation patrol inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, showcasing allied sea control and growing interoperability in the Philippine Sea (Picture Source: U.S. Navy / DVIDS)
The activity, which included participation from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aviation assets and Philippine air units, marked the second multilateral maritime cooperative event of 2026 following a similar engagement earlier in the year with Australia, the Philippines, and the United States. According to official U.S. Navy information, the exercise centered on replenishment-at-sea operations, deck landing qualifications, and advanced communications drills, complemented by subject matter expert exchanges ashore in Subic covering visual information, air operations, and seamanship training. These engagements form part of a broader operational pattern led by U.S. 7th Fleet to preserve freedom of navigation and reinforce lawful maritime rights under international law.
At the forefront of the formation, USS Dewey, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, delivered high-end combat capability to the activity. Equipped with the Aegis Combat System and a vertical launch system capable of firing Standard surface-to-air missiles, Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, and anti-submarine rockets, the Flight IIA destroyer provides area air defense, ballistic missile defense, precision strike, and anti-submarine warfare capacity. Forward-deployed to the Western Pacific, Dewey represents persistent U.S. surface lethality and command-and-control reach in the Indo-Pacific theater.
Sailing in formation, BRP Antonio Luna, a Jose Rizal-class guided-missile frigate, represents the most modern surface combatant capability in the Philippine Navy. Designed for multi-role operations, the 2,600-ton frigate integrates advanced radar and combat management systems with surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air defense capability, torpedoes, and an embarked helicopter for anti-submarine missions. Its participation in replenishment drills and deck landing certifications strengthens the Philippine Navy’s ability to operate seamlessly with allied task groups during extended maritime operations.
Completing the formation, BRP Gabriela Silang, a Gabriela Silang-class offshore patrol vessel operated by the Philippine Coast Guard, provided maritime security and extended patrol endurance capability. While not a missile-equipped combatant, the 83-meter OPV plays a critical role in sovereignty enforcement, fisheries protection, and humanitarian assistance missions within the Philippine EEZ. Its integration into a multilateral naval formation illustrates Manila’s layered maritime defense posture, linking constabulary functions with high-end naval deterrence.
The broader activity incorporated Japanese P-3C maritime patrol aircraft, a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon assigned to Patrol Squadron 4, and Philippine aviation assets, including AW159 Wildcat helicopters, FA-50 fighter jets, A-29 light attack aircraft, C-208B utility aircraft, and search-and-rescue helicopters. The combination of surface combatants and multi-domain air assets reinforced maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine coordination, and tactical communication resilience across allied platforms.
Operationally, such formations enhance endurance and readiness in a maritime space that connects the South China Sea, Luzon Strait, and the wider Pacific approaches. Replenishment-at-sea drills extend time on station, deck landing qualifications improve aviation integration, and communications exercises validate joint command-and-control networks. Together, these capabilities underpin credible deterrence by ensuring allied forces can sustain coordinated operations under complex maritime conditions.
Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activities serve as visible demonstrations of alliance cohesion without escalating tensions. By integrating a U.S. Aegis destroyer with a Philippine guided-missile frigate and coast guard patrol vessel, the exercise blends high-end combat power with sovereign maritime enforcement. The activity reinforces Manila’s modernization trajectory while signaling that U.S. 7th Fleet remains forward-positioned and operationally synchronized with regional partners.
As cooperative engagements increase in tempo and complexity, the February 25 formation in the Philippine Sea illustrates a clear operational trajectory: deeper allied interoperability, expanded maritime situational awareness, and strengthened collective capacity to safeguard sea lines of communication in the Indo-Pacific.