Australia, the Philippines and the United States have conducted a multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

The MCA was conducted on 15-16 February 2026 and included Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigate HMAS Toowoomba, supported by a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

The MCA also involved the Philippine Navy vessel BRP Diego Silang and its embarked AW109 helicopter; Philippine Air Force FA-50PH and A-29 Super Tucano aircraft; Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua and the United States Navy destroyer USS Dewey, and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

Australia’s participation underscores our commitment to regional and international cooperation in support of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

This MCA demonstrates how Australia is upholding international law with freedom of navigation and overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Australia reaffirms the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award is final and legally binding on the parties.

Strong cooperation and the ability to work together, demonstrated through activities such as this, enhance our interoperability and readiness to respond with partners to shared security challenges. 

HMAS Toowoomba is currently conducting a Regional Presence Deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

Regional Presence Deployments demonstrate Australia’s commitment and ability to maintain a near continuous presence in the region to support regional security and stability.

Media note
Imagery of this activity is available from https://images.defence.gov.au/S20260287  

Updates from HMAS Toowoomba will be posted to the Regional Presence Deployment blog at https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-02-10/regional-presence-deployments-continue-2026.