The 25th Infantry Division is forging ahead with cutting-edge drone capabilities as part of a transformative training operation in the Philippines, demonstrating the Army’s evolving approach to modern warfare.

Forward deployed in Luzon, the Hawaii-based 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team is deepening its interoperability with Philippine forces and pushing the boundaries of battlefield visibility and engagement range.

The joint exercise, held under the umbrella of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC), sees the 2nd Brigade training alongside the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Armed Forces.

This latest rotation is the brigade’s second iteration under the Army’s “Transformation in Contact” (TIC) initiative, which aims to enhance combat formations’ readiness through modernization in real-world conditions.

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Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division, highlighted the formidable challenges faced during the mission—not from enemy forces, but from the unforgiving environment.

“The most challenging part of the exercise so far has been the environmental factors,” Evans told Army Times on Monday. “High temperatures and monsoon conditions have slammed troops as they’ve operated across islands and jungles in the Luzon area of the Philippines.”

Despite the harsh weather, U.S. forces are seeing real dividends from new technologies. The brigade has been equipped with new medium- and long-range drones that far exceed the reach of previous systems.

In 2024, units could only operate drones within a 3-kilometer radius. Now, soldiers are capable of scouting, sensing, and even striking targets up to 30 kilometers away—nearly ten times the prior distance.

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“It creates increased survivability,” Evans said of the enhanced striking range. “It enhances their ability to protect themselves with greater standoff and strike with loitering munitions or weaponized drones.”

Alongside drones, the brigade is employing counter-drone systems and electronic warfare tools. But what’s particularly noteworthy is their innovative use of 3D printing. So far, they’ve produced nearly 50 first-person-view drones and a range of spare parts, showcasing agile manufacturing in a deployed environment.

The training exercise involves approximately 2,000 U.S. troops from Hawaii and Guam, matched in number by their Philippine counterparts.

The allied forces are battling a simulated battalion-sized enemy equipped with its own suite of drones and electronic warfare gear. This makes for a complex and realistic training environment, crucial for testing new capabilities under pressure.

This year’s exercise also benefits from enhanced mobility. In contrast to last year’s deployment, the brigade now has access to infantry squad vehicles. The change has had a tangible impact on their ability to maneuver and sustain operations in rugged terrain.

“The vehicles have made a major difference for troops in both mobility and sustainability,” Evans said.

While the first TIC evolution focused primarily on dismounted units at the brigade level, this second phase expands modernization to mechanized and armored formations.

The 25th Infantry Division has gone a step further by integrating division-level assets, such as long-range fires, into the brigade’s operations. This not only adds firepower but allows soldiers to operate as part of a simulated larger force.

According to Evans, the exercise is about more than technology—it’s about procedural harmony between two allied forces.

“[Their] main objective is procedural interoperability,” he explained. “U.S. and Philippine forces train sustainment, movement and maneuver together. See further, sense better and be able to strike.”

This synchronization of command structures is being actively tested during the exercise, as the 25th Infantry Division headquarters works directly with the 7th Infantry Division’s headquarters to coordinate large-scale maneuvers.

The culmination of the training will be a complex joint operation that spans multiple domains.

After completing the field training phase, U.S. and Philippine units will regroup at Fort Magsaysay before embarking on a 400-kilometer combined maritime, land, and air movement into simulated enemy territory.

The operation will conclude at Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz in mid-June, symbolizing a bold leap forward in U.S.-Philippine military cooperation and battlefield reach.

From longer-range drones to 3D printing and advanced vehicle support, the 25th Infantry Division’s presence in the Philippines underscores the Army’s commitment to forward-thinking warfighting.

In the words of Maj. Gen. Evans, it’s all about giving soldiers the tools to “see further, sense better and be able to strike.”

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