Aaron-Matthew Lariosa

Voyage to the Island of Hope: 3 Days with the Philippine Coast Guard - USNI News As a condition of embedding on the mission, USNI News has agreed to identify crew members with nicknames related to their home provinces. ABOARD BRP MALAPASCUA, SAILING IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA – It was...

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.

U.S. Navy Seeks Large Storage Facility in the Philippines by 2026 - USNI News 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 un...

“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...

U.S. Deploys Anti-Ship Missiles Near Taiwan in the Luzon Strait - Naval News U.S. Marine Corps anti-ship missiles will deploy to the Luzon Strait between the Philippines and Taiwan in Balikatan 2025.

“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. Deploys Anti-Ship Missiles Near Taiwan in the Luzon Strait - Naval News U.S. Marine Corps anti-ship missiles will deploy to the Luzon Strait between the Philippines and Taiwan in Balikatan 2025.

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  - Naval News General Atomics and Rafael aim to deliver a long-range, precision strike capability to U.S. forces through the new Bullseye missile.

[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...

CoAspire Tests RAACM Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile - Naval News CoAspire presented RAACM, a low-cost cruise missile designed to bring cheap, 3D-printed, long-range munitions to the U.S. Air Force.

[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 to Join Balikatan 2025 as Full-Fledged Participant - Naval News Tokyo's presence at Balikatan 2025 will see Japanese vessels drill alongside American and Philippine navies in the South China Sea.

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...

Marine Corps to Debut New Philippine Rotational Force at Balikatan 2025 Drills - USNI News The Marines are set to deploy a new rotational force to the Philippines at a major upcoming exercise. The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment will debut the new Littoral Rotational Force-Luzon at the Balikat...

“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...

U.S. Marines to Stage Equipment at Subic Bay Under New Prepositioning Plan - USNI News 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. Last month, th...

“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 - Naval News Serco has launched USX-1 Defiant, a prototype of a DARPA program that aims to deliver cost-effective unmanned surface vessels to the fleet.

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...

Charles De Gaulle Joins First Philippine-French SCS Joint Patrol - Naval News The Charles De Gaulle Carrier Strike Group conducted Paris' first SCS joint patrol with Philippine forces in the disputed waters.

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

Philippines to Procure Submarines for Archipelagic Defense - Naval News Manila aims to procure submarines for the defense of the country’s archipelago in the final phase of its military modernization program.

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...

UPDATED: U.S. Marine, 3 DoD Contractors Killed in Philippines Surveillance Plane Crash - USNI News This post has been updated to identify the service member killed as a U.S. Marine. A surveillance plane contracted by the Pentagon crashed in the Philippines on Thursday killing four, including a U.S....

news.usni.org/2025/02/06/u...

General Atomics Pitches Drone Launch System for US and Allied Warships - Naval News General Atomics unveiled concepts for the installation of a drone launch system derived from EMALS on a destroyer and support vessel.

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...

US Navy Begins Hypersonic Integration on USS Lyndon B. Johnson  - Naval News Lyndon B. Johnson will be the second ship in the fleet to deploy hypersonic weapons amid the U.S. Navy's efforts to up-gun the Zumwalt-class

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.

Thank you!

Also had the opportunity to meet some great people throughout the year in Washington, Manila, and Taipei.

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.

Happy New Years from Manila!

Held a demo of Littoral Commander on a roof overlooking the rainy Makati skyline tonight to an awesome group of people that will put this copy to good use for 🇵🇭 policy. One of the more memorable meetings I’ve had on this trip for sure.

Another newsroom