Exercise Alon was first held in 2023 as part of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour program. This exercise successfully demonstrated Australia and the Philippines ability to practice high-end amphibious warfighting skills together.
Exercise Alon demonstrates:
- the strength of the strategic partnership between Australia and the Philippines
- shared value in maintaining a region where state sovereignty is protected
- that international law is followed
- that nations can make decisions free from coercion.
‘Alon’ is the Tagalog word for ‘wave’.
This year's exercise and will build on close working relationships and experience established through bilateral and multilateral activities, including:
- Exercise Alon 23
- Operation Augury
- Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program
- Philippine participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre, Exercise Pitch Black and Exercise Kakadu
- Maritime Cooperative Activity.
Exercise Alon 25
Exercise Alon 25 is the largest overseas joint force projection activity that Australia has conducted within our region in recent history.
From 15 to 29 August 2025, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Australian Defence Force (ADF) will train together at locations around the islands of Palawan and Luzon.
Participants
Over 3,600 personnel are participating in Exercise Alon 25.
Australia
The ADF will deploy approximately 1,600 personnel to contribute and support towards the following components.
Headquarters
Australia will deploy Joint Task Force 661 at Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Australia will also establish a Combined Fusion Centre with the Philippines' Western Command Headquarters to direct task groups deployed to this exercise. An Exercise Directorate Headquarters will also be established at Camp Aguinaldo in Manila to manage this exercise.
Land
An Australian Army battle group, based on 8th/9th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, including an infantry battalion of approximately 390 personnel, will take part. This will comprise:
- a Battalion Headquarters
- 2 infantry companies: one motorised company in protected mobility vehicles and one light company
- a cavalry troop with 5 Australian light armoured vehicles (ASLAV)
- an artillery battery with 2 M777 155-millimetre howitzers
- a combat engineer troop
- one Role-2 and 2 Role-1 health elements
- a combat service support team.
Maritime
Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane with an embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter will support this exercise during Regional Presence Deployment 25-3. Army will contribute a company from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment will conduct both JPLF and ground combat element tasks as part of the Combined Joint Force Entry Operation.
Air
F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers and C-130J Hercules will participate. The exercise will be supported by a P-8A Poseidon concurrently deployed to the Philippines. RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and C-17A Globemaster III aircraft will facilitate the movement of personnel, aircraft and equipment between Australia and the Philippines.
Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines will deploy approximately 1,525 personnel along with the following assets:
Army
- 7th Infantry Division
- Armoured Division – combined arms organisation composed of tank, cavalry and mechanised infantry
- signals
- combat engineers
- mechanised infantry
- special operations team
- medical teams
Air Force
- FA-50PH Fighting Eagle
- A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft
- ground-based radars
- helicopters including S-70i Blackhawk, T-129 ATAK and AW109
Navy
Jose Rizal Class guided missile frigate.
Marine Corps
A Marine Brigade and 2 Marine Battalions.
Other nations
Participation from other nations will deploy approximately 530 personnel along with the following assets:
Royal Canadian Navy
- Halifax Class frigate HMCS Ville de Québec
- embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter
- approximately 180 personnel
United States Marine Corps
A task group from the Marine Rotation Force – Darwin will support the exercise with approximately 350 personnel and an MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
Activities
During Exercise Alon 25, Special Operations personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and ADF will conduct a number of integration and training activities throughout the Philippines.
Additional cooperation between Australia and the Philippines will include cyber resilience, civil-military and religious capability engagement, as well as military public affairs.
The ADF will practice its joint force projection through the mass airlift of an Australian Army battle group, based on 8th/9th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, consisting of approximately 390 personnel as well as armoured, engineering, health and artillery elements.
Participating nations will also conduct amphibious landing operations and maritime manoeuvres during Exercise Alon 25.
Exercise Alon 25 will involve live-fire exercises at military training ranges and in maritime areas. Information about these activities will be released aligned with best practice through advanced official Notice to Mariners and Notice to Airmen channels. Activities will also be communicated through civil engagement channels by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Live-fire activity will be conducted with due regard to the safety of participants and the wider community while also ensuring maximum training value for participants.