U.S. Marines Deploy Drone Unit to Philippines to Patrol Over South China Sea — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/11/13/u...

The Philippine Marine Corps publicly unveiled its BrahMos cruise missile coastal defense system at a Marine Corps Coastal Defense Regiment facility in Zambales, reported by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social See our visualization of the BrahMos system's deployment site and reported operational range

Philippine Marine Corps Unveils First BrahMos Anti-Ship Missile Battery — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/11/07/p...

The Philippine Marine Corps unveiled its first BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missile battery and future plans to enhance coastal defense on Friday, a milestone in Manila’s effort to develop a long-range precision fires capability. news.usni.org/2025/11/07/p...

The Philippine Marine Corps has revealed its first BrahMos missile battery during a presentation at the force’s 75th anniversary ceremony today. Located in Zambales, Manila’s first BrahMos base can reach Scarborough Shoal. Note the battery comp and facilities shown. 📸 RTVM

“Of the nine planned field training exercises, three will focus on anti-invasion activities near the Luzon Strait. Northern Luzon will see Philippine troops hold counter-landing drills and practice the recapture of seized ports and airfields.” news.usni.org/2025/11/05/p...

South Korea Positions KSS-III Attack Submarine for International Sale — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/11/04/s...

Philippine 81st Liberation Anniversary late post. The other half of my family resides in a small village in Leyte, which means every trip we pass by this memorial. To me, this spot marked where the New World, with all its power and might, stepped forth to the rescue and the liberation of the Old.

news.usni.org/2025/10/31/u... "While the size and scope of Task Force Philippines is unclear, the initiative follows the previously established Task Force Ayungin."

Just updated with a statement from U.S. Pacific Fleet. According to the release, Task Force-Philippines is a joint 60 personnel coordination unit led by a one-star. It also aims to bolster the capability of Manila’s new defense strategy (CADC). 1/2

American and Philippine defense secretaries unveiled a task force designed to deter Chinese coercion in the South China Sea and enhance alliance defense cooperation. news.usni.org/2025/10/31/u...

Reposting my summer embark with the Philippine Coast Guard amid recent musings in Manila. For those interested in learning about the experiences of PCG sailors on the frontlines in the South China Sea during an escort mission to the Spratly Islands. 1/3 news.usni.org/2025/06/04/v...

Last week, the Philippine Army stood up a provisional missile battalion ahead of an anticipated procurement of several dozen MLRS and ground-based anti-ship missile batteries under Manila’s next phase of military modernization. My latest with USNI News: news.usni.org/2025/10/27/p...

“The system works. It stopped because it wasn’t, you know, fieldable in an operational environment. The reliability aspects of it, right? But in terms of the technical challenges, the technical challenges have been solved.” Railguns work, according to GA. My latest with Naval News:

The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed its intentions to stand up a new Maritime Reconnaissance Company and procure unmanned rocket launchers in the service’s annual force design update 🇺🇸 Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

General Atomics is pitching previously developed #railgun technologies amid Washington’s push for a nation-wide air and missile defense network and the reinforcement of its Indo-Pacific outpost at Guam, Naval News has learned 🇺🇸⚡️ By @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Day one of AUSA done. Despite the photo, I did have fun. Looking forward to the rest!

A Chinese bomber equipped with supersonic anti-ship missiles flew over a disputed South China Sea maritime feature that Beijing claims as its own during combat readiness patrols alongside frigates and fighter jets on Wednesday 🇨🇳 By @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Oahu, August 2025.

Visits

Taipei, June 2025.

Nagoya, July 2025.

Tokyo, Sept. 2025. 1/3

Voyage to the Island of Hope: 3 Days with the Philippine Coast Guard - USNI News news.usni.org/2025/06/04/v...

This story rules. What we get from the SCS is either conflict, "rising tensions" mishmash or sterile photos of U.S. ships with the Chinese cropped out. @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social slips through vignettes over three days with the crew of BRP Malapascua for a study of their day-to-day. Tremendous!

Had the experience of a lifetime with the Philippine Coast Guard on the South China Sea over the last week. Learned a lot about the lives of these men and women in the West Philippine Sea, as well as the struggles they face. Story going out soon.

Could’ve been a worse four years, thanks for everything American. Many thanks to the professors that cleared absences in support of my defense journalism coverage and a number of interesting classmates. Now it’s time to get to work. See you soon, Manila.

“The Department of the Navy is looking to lease a climate-controlled facility between 19,000 and 33,000 square meters near Subic Bay and Clark for the storage of equipment in the Philippines by 2026 under a ten-year-long lease.” My latest with USNI News: news.usni.org/2025/04/21/u...

“The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment’s Medium-Range Missile Battery will send Naval Strike Missile-equipped Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems to the Luzon Strait during Balikatan 2025…” www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

U.S. Marine Corps anti-ship missiles will deploy to the Luzon Strait, a strategic first island chain chokepoint between the Philippines and Taiwan, during Balikatan 2025 🇺🇸 🇵🇭 🚀 #NMESIS story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

[Video] General Atomics Unveils Bullseye Long-Range Strike Missile 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 General Atomics and Rafael aim to deliver a long-range, precision strike capability to U.S. forces through the new Bullseye missile. #SAS2025 story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/event-news/s...

[VIDEO] CoAspire presented a low-cost cruise missile designed to bring cheap, 3D-printed, long-range munitions to the U.S. and partner Air Forces at Sea Air Space 2025. #RAACM #SAS2025 Story and interview by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/event-news/s...

Behind the scenes.

Sea, air, and space.

Finally made it to 🇵🇭 embassy after all of these years. Had an insightful conversation with some great hosts.

Japan’s maiden participation in Balikatan 2025 is the culmination of years of defense and security cooperation between Tokyo and Manila 🇯🇵🇵🇭 Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

“The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment will debut the new Littoral Rotational Force-Luzon at the Balikatan 2025 exercise in the Philippines, USNI News has learned.” “When you think MLR, you think of the Philippines.” My latest with USNI News: news.usni.org/2025/03/27/m...

“After 32 years, an American military presence is set to return to Subic Bay under a new Marine Corps prepositioning program that will see the service stage equipment in the Philippines.” My article with USNI News on new 🇺🇸 Marine Corps staging efforts in 🇵🇭: news.usni.org/2025/03/17/u...

Serco, DARPA Launch NOMARS USX-1 Defiant NOMARS envisions a cost-effective USV concept for the U.S. Navy through a design philosophy that excludes all crewed features 🇺🇸 www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

The Charles De Gaulle Carrier Strike Group joined the maiden Philippine-Franco joint patrol in the South China Sea in one of the largest bilateral drills between the two nations to date 🇫🇷🇵🇭 By @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Combat Art Gallery, National Museum of the Marine Corps

Manila announced that the Philippine Navy will receive two submarines for the defense of the country’s archipelago in the largest and final stage of its military modernization program 🇵🇭 Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

General Atomics is looking to deploy drones through a system derived from EMALS on land and on a number of warship types at-sea 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇯🇵 👉 Type 45 DDG 👉 ESB 👉 Izumo-class 👉 Queen Elizabeth-class Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/event-news/s...

Lyndon B. Johnson will be the second ship in the U.S. Navy to deploy hypersonics amid the service’s efforts to up-gun its Zumwalt-class destroyers with Conventional Prompt Strike 🇺🇸🚀 #SNA2025 Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/event-news/s...

First day of Surface Navy Association 2025 with the team.

2024 was a year of many firsts for me. Some highlights include a tour of the Pentagon, boarding a Los Angeles-class attack submarine at Norfolk, getting flown across the world to cover the Philippine Navy at Subic Bay, and interviewing leadership in Manila.