US Marines conduct Balikatan 2026 drills in the Philippines including counter-drone engagements

During Exercise Balikatan 2026 in the Philippines, US Marine units conducted an integrated air defense demonstration in Zambales that engaged quadcopter and fixed-wing drone targets using MADIS counter-drone systems. The exercise also noted the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment received attack drones for the first time during this year's Balikatan.