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U.S. naval forces joined maritime forces from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group (EWG) on Maritime Security Joint Cooperative Activity (MS JCA), Sept. 20.
Co-hosted by Japan and the Republic of the Philippines, the ADMM-Plus is executing the MS JCA as a multilateral maritime exercise designed to foster cooperation, enhance collective maritime domain awareness, and strengthen regional resilience against natural disasters.
"We are honored to be operating alongside our allies and regional partners for the MS JCA," said U.S. Navy Capt. Bryan Gallant, operations officer for Commander, Task Force 76. "Practicing together now ensures we are ready before a crisis. This exercise builds the hands-on proficiency we need to coordinate smoothly and respond effectively to real-world challenges alongside our partners, keeping the Indo-Pacific free and open."
Participating nations actively deploying ships, aircraft, and personnel include Australia, Brunei, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, and the United States.
U.S. Navy participation included Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Allied and partner nation vessels operating in the combined task group included Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH 182); Indian Navy Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate INS Sahyadri (F49) and Kora-class corvette INS Kulish (P63); Philippines Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FFG14) and Tarlac-class landing platform dock BRP Tarlac (LD601); Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth (FFH 157); Republic of Singapore Navy Independence-class littoral mission vessel RSS Justice; Royal Brunei Navy Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel KDB Darussalam (06); and Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana (F 111) and Polar-class sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa (A 11).
Following the opening ceremony, the shore phase of the exercise will occur in Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines, and feature a disaster-response tabletop exercise, subject matter expertise exchanges, an open house aboard participating ships, and cultural exchanges. The exercise will include a follow-on sea phase where key maritime skillsets and interoperability will be trained by the participants.
The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its dialogue partners to strengthen security and defense cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region. The inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam, Oct. 12, 2010. The ADMM-Plus EWG coordinates the MS JCA, which is a maritime exercise focusing on enhancing multilateral interoperability, information sharing, and practical cooperation among participating nations' maritime forces to engage with a humanitarian assistance and disaster response scenario.
U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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| Date Taken: | 09.19.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2026 03:57 |
| Story ID: | 575186 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 57 |
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