Joint troops from the Philippine Army and US Army Pacific utilized two units of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) for a live fire exercise at the Canantong Fire Base, Laur, Nueva Ecija last Monday, 30 June.
This military drill was part of the “Operation Spartan Strike” conducted on 30 June.
Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the truck-mounted HIMARS can hit targets with precision and power that is beyond the current capabilities of the Philippine Army.
“To recall, the HIMARS live fire test was incorporated for the first time in the 2023 iteration of Exercise Salaknib,” he shared.
Dema-ala said the HIMARS can also move around the battlefield, making it a tough target to find.
The conduct of “Operation Spartan Strike” aims to enhance the interoperability and tactical proficiency between the Philippine Army and the US Army Pacific.
The live fire exercise also synchronized kinetic effects in a controlled environment and contributed to the development of fire support strategies of the participating troops.
The drill was part of the Army-to-Army theater security cooperation between the Philippines and the US aims to enhance their defense readiness.
