 In Balakatan-22, sailors and Marines from the dock landing ship USS Ashland, hovercraft from Naval Beach Unit 7, and soldiers from the 1st Battalion 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment conducted the first ever amphibious insert of a Patriot missile system on the northern coast of Luzon, Philippines. Marines from Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, prepared the landing site and ensured the Patriot launchers were able to rapidly move to their fighting positions. This mission took place as part of larger amphibious and coastal defense operations that will take place throughout the exercise. The Patriot provides critical air defense capabilities that strengthen the ability of the joint and combined force to maintain security across all domains. Balakatan-22 coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation and a shared commitment to advancing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.