U.S. and Philippine Forces Test High-Powered Microwave Weapons in Joint Exercise
Balikatan 2025 features first Indo-Pacific deployment of IFPC-HPM and FS-LIDS systems to counter drone threats
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales, Philippines — On April 28, 2025, the United States and the Philippines conducted a joint live-fire exercise at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, testing advanced counter-drone systems as part of the annual Balikatan military drills.
The exercise marked the first deployment of the U.S. Army's Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Powered Microwave (IFPC-HPM) system in the Indo-Pacific region.
The IFPC-HPM, a directed energy weapon designed to neutralize drone swarms, was tested alongside the Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS).
FS-LIDS provides detection, tracking, and classification of aerial threats, while IFPC-HPM disables targets using high-powered microwave energy.
The systems were operated by the U.S. Army's 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, in coordination with the Philippine Air Force's 960th Air and Missile Defense Group and the U.S. Marine Corps' 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion.
U.S. Army Captain Bray McCollum, commander of the 1st Battalion, 51st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, reported that the systems successfully countered drone swarms in the tropical environment of the Philippines.
The exercise aimed to validate the operational capabilities of these systems under challenging climatic conditions.
The joint drills are part of the broader Balikatan 2025 exercises, which involve approximately 14,000 U.S. and Philippine troops, along with participants from other allied nations.
The exercises focus on enhancing interoperability and readiness in response to evolving security challenges in the region.
The exercise marked the first deployment of the U.S. Army's Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Powered Microwave (IFPC-HPM) system in the Indo-Pacific region.
The IFPC-HPM, a directed energy weapon designed to neutralize drone swarms, was tested alongside the Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS).
FS-LIDS provides detection, tracking, and classification of aerial threats, while IFPC-HPM disables targets using high-powered microwave energy.
The systems were operated by the U.S. Army's 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, in coordination with the Philippine Air Force's 960th Air and Missile Defense Group and the U.S. Marine Corps' 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion.
U.S. Army Captain Bray McCollum, commander of the 1st Battalion, 51st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, reported that the systems successfully countered drone swarms in the tropical environment of the Philippines.
The exercise aimed to validate the operational capabilities of these systems under challenging climatic conditions.
The joint drills are part of the broader Balikatan 2025 exercises, which involve approximately 14,000 U.S. and Philippine troops, along with participants from other allied nations.
The exercises focus on enhancing interoperability and readiness in response to evolving security challenges in the region.
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