Aaron-Matthew Lariosa

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

Philippine Military to Hold Anti-invasion Drills in Northern Luzon, South China Sea - USNI News Philippine forces will hold anti-invasion drills across Northern Luzon and the South China Sea this month to test the country’s ability to defend against threats amid tensions with China. The Armed Fo...

“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 South Korea pitched its submarines to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos for Manila’s ambitious naval modernization program last week in a bid to sell domestically made attack boats to internationa...

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.

U.S. Unveils Philippine Task Force to Deter Chinese Coercion - USNI News This post has been updated with a statement from U.S. Pacific Fleet. American and Philippine defense secretaries unveiled a task force designed to deter Chinese coercion in the South China Sea and enh...

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."

“The rotational, non-kinetic, jointly staffed coordination element enhances Philippine-led Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept capabilities through planning, interoperability, and synchronization of operations, activities, and investments in the Philippines.”

2/2 END

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

U.S. Unveils Philippine Task Force to Deter Chinese Coercion - USNI News American and Philippine defense secretaries unveiled a task force designed to deter Chinese coercion in the South China Sea and enhance alliance defense cooperation. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegset...

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...

Learning about the struggles that these sailors have to endure on the daily has been the highlight of my coverage by far. I hope that this report conveyed these challenges to its readers. 3/3 END

Prior to this assignment, I mostly covered industry and trade shows. My only experience with the South China Sea was with press releases and research. Seeing it up close unlocked a new perspective and helped my understanding of the issue. 2/3

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...

Philippine Army Stands Up Missile Battalion for Territorial Defense Operations - USNI News Manila stood up its first Army unit dedicated to operating surface-to-surface missiles last week in an effort to strengthen Philippine forces’ long-range precision strike capabilities and contribute t...

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:

U.S. Marines to Deploy Maritime Recon Unit, Unmanned Launchers - Naval News Under the service's latest force design update, U.S. Marines will stand up maritime recon units and procure unmanned missile launchers.

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 Pitches Railgun for Air and Missile Defense - Naval News General Atomics is looking to pitch its railgun technologies in a terminal defense capacity for Golden Dome and the Defense of Guam.

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!

China Sends Anti-Ship Bomber, Frigates to Scarborough Shoal - Naval News China showcased an anti-ship missile-equipped bomber, fighter jets and frigates in its latest series of combat drills in the South China Sea.

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.

3/3

2/3

Tokyo, Sept. 2025. 1/3

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.