The Philippines and its allies, including Canada, Japan and the U.S., kicked off the maritime phase of Exercise Sama Sama 2024 in the South China Sea this week.
Derived from the Southeast Asian-focused Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training series of maritime security exercises, the originally bilateral exercise has grown to become Manila’s premier multilateral naval drill. This year’s Sama Sama, translating to “together” in Tagalog, includes high-end training activities for the Philippine Navy, including over-the-horizon targeting, counter-unmanned aerial system drills and hunting a simulated submarine with allied ships.
While the Philippine Navy has been slowly modernizing with new warships and technologies amid tensions in the South China Sea and Luzon Strait, the service is still learning modern naval warfare tactics and expertise. Before the country’s naval modernization efforts, which began in 2012, the majority of the fleet was composed of Second World War-era destroyer escorts and landing ship tanks. To develop these nascent capabilities, Manila has turned to old and new allies alike in exercises such as Sama Sama.
Participants for this year include BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), BRP Waray (LC-288), BRP Nestor Reinoso (PC 380), HMCS Vancouver (FFH-331) and USS Howard (DDG-83). Naval aviation includes helicopters launched from the warships, land-based Philippine ScanEagle drones, a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon and a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force contingent composed of a P-1 Kawasaki maritime patrol aircraft and a ShinMaywa US-2 seaplane. Personnel from Australia, the United Kingdom and France are also present for the drills, although it’s unclear if these nations are observing the exercise or directly participating.
Sama Sama sets itself apart from other naval exercises, which are typically focused on joint patrols and lower-end maritime security initiatives, with its inclusion of anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills. Other activities include practicing replenishments at sea and search and rescue efforts. Manila has deployed and tested its newest capabilities with the assistance or presence of more experienced allies and partners. In April, the country conducted its first-ever anti-ship missile launch during Balikatan 2024’s sinking exercise, which also included forces from the U.S. and Australia.
“It [Sama Sama] also highlights different nations’ commitment to enhancing interoperability with one another in modern warfare and joint patrols,” stated a press release on the naval operations from Philippine Navy flagship Jose Rizal.
With an increasingly assertive China encroaching on the country’s exclusive economic zone, dubbed as the West Philippine Sea by Manila, the Philippines has turned to more frequent and numerous joint patrols with its allies. During Sama Sama, Jose Rizal, Vancouver and Howard conducted a nighttime drill that simulated “real-world scenarios of patrolling contested waters.”
USNI News reported from HMCS Montréal (FFH-336) during a joint patrol in August in waters claimed by China. Numerous People’s Liberation Army Navy warships shadowed Montréal, a U.S. cruiser, and two Philippine Navy ships during the exercise.
