Aaron-Matthew Lariosa
@aaronmatthewil.bsky.social
Reporting 🇵🇭🇺🇸 defense issues. All opinions are my own.
Ankara’s Ambition: Turkey’s Growing Defense Capabilities, Partnerships and Industrial Base — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/06/02/a...
Ankara’s Ambition - USNI News
DOĞANBEY TRAINING AREA, TURKEY — Two-thousand-pound bombs, artillery shells and naval bombardments sent shockwaves through the valley in Turkey where the Aegean Army focused its firepower last month. ...
news.usni.org
The scale of Balikatan 2026’s maritime strike & long-range missile drills compared to previous exercises is staggering. Their concentration in Northern Luzon also demonstrates the changing priorities of Balikatan. My latest with Naval News:
Naval News@navalnews.com · 3mo agoU.S. forces surged missiles across the Philippines over the course of Balikatan 2026 🇺🇸🇵🇭 Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social Link to story 🔗: www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
U.S. forces surged missiles across the Philippines over the course of Balikatan 2026 🇺🇸🇵🇭 Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social Link to story 🔗: www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
U.S. Missile Surge, Reach Showcased at Philippine Balikatan Drills - Naval News
U.S. forces surged missiles across the Philippines over the course of Balikatan 2026 at key locations for simulated and live-fire exercises
navalnews.com
JGSDF Type 88 salvos missile at Balikatan 2026 (late post)
Littoral Deep Battle: The Army’s Plan to Defeat an Amphibious Invasion in the Indo-Pacific — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/05/05/l...
Littoral Deep Battle: The Army’s Plan to Defeat an Amphibious Invasion - USNI News
LAOAG, Philippines — Target drones resembling Chinese amphibious infantry fighting vehicles approached the La Paz Sand Dunes at a steady pace. In the next few hours, a combined force of American, Phil...
news.usni.org
U.S. anti-ship and long-range precision strike missile launchers were flown to an island 100 miles south of Taiwan. Meanwhile, a Chinese surface action group drilled east of Luzon. My latest with USNI News and first byline from Manila for Balikatan 2026:
U.S. Naval Institute@usni.org · 3mo agoU.S. Missiles Deploy Near Taiwan During Balikatan Exercise, Chinese Action Group Operates Nearby — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/04/28/u...
“Submarines are an important tool for our country’s development of ‘strategic deterrence,’ as well as a crucial defensive weapon for countering maritime blockades and expanding strategic depth,” - President Lai to the 256th Submarine Squadron. news.usni.org/2026/03/25/t...
Taiwanese Leadership Visits First Domestically-built Attack Boat, Highlights Deterrent Role - USNI News
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te boarded Taipei’s first domestically-built attack boat and highlighted the role of submarines in upholding deterrence last week during a visit to the island’s naval forces...
news.usni.org
Taiwanese Leadership Visits First Domestically-built Attack Boat, Highlights Deterrent Role — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/03/25/t...
Taiwanese Leadership Visits First Domestically-built Attack Boat, Highlights Deterrent Role - USNI News
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te boarded Taipei’s first domestically-built attack boat and highlighted the role of submarines in upholding deterrence last week during a visit to the island’s naval forces...
news.usni.org
U.S. Navy to Increase Hammerhead Anti-Submarine Mine Order — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/03/17/u...
U.S. Navy to Increase Hammerhead Anti-Submarine Mine Order - USNI News
The U.S. Navy is looking to increase its order of next-generation anti-submarine mines to “meet operational requirements,” according to a recent contract modification. The sea service is requesting Ge...
news.usni.org
Spent the morning scouring CENTCOM imagery and videos of Tomahawk launches. Definitely not definitive, but this is my humble attempt to count how many of these crucial munitions have been used since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury. My latest covers INDOPACOM’s sorrow:
Naval News@navalnews.com · 5mo agoThe Tomahawk has been extensively used by US forces in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Utilizing open-source media released by CENTCOM, we have complied verifiable launches of Tomahawk from U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers operating across the region 🇺🇸🚀 www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Philippine Marine BrahMos Force Stands Up Northern Luzon Unit Across from Taiwan 🇵🇭🇹🇼 By @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Philippine Marine BrahMos Force Stands Up Northern Luzon Unit - Naval News
The Philippine Marine Corps BrahMos-equipped Coastal Defense Regiment extended its reach to Northern Luzon with a new formation.
navalnews.com
The Philippine Navy debuted its first non-lethal effector, a system that combines long-range acoustic device (LRAD) and laser dazzling roles, aboard the service’s new first-in-class OPV BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) 🇵🇭 By @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
New Philippine OPV to Deploy Service's First LRAD System - Naval News
The Philippine Navy debuted its first non-lethal effector, combining long-range acoustic device (LRAD) and laser roles, aboard its new OPVs.
navalnews.com
The U.S. Army wants to accelerate the development of a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) anti-ship variant capable of being fired from the service’s highly mobile rocket launchers and striking maritime targets over a 1,000 KM away 🇺🇸🚀 By @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
U.S. Army to Accelerate Fielding of 1000 km Anti-Ship PrSM - Naval News
The U.S. Army wants to accelerate the development of a PrSM variant capable of striking maritime targets over a thousand kilometers away.
navalnews.com
Good morning San Diego. Looking forward to WEST and other activities throughout the week.
Paris will send an amphibious helicopter carrier and frigate to the Philippines for this year’s Balikatan, marking the largest participation of French forces in Manila’s annual military exercise to date 🇫🇷 🇵🇭 By @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
French Amphibious Warship, Frigate to Join Balikatan 2026 - Naval News
The French Navy will deploy to the Philippines with its largest Balikatan contingent to date during this year's Jeanne D’Arc mission.
navalnews.com
Heading out to San Diego for my first WEST conference. Looking forward to meeting everyone.
“The U.S. Army has stood up a rotational force in the Philippines, according to recently released defense media.” Army Rotational Force-Philippines is Washington’s latest defense effort with Manila amid tensions in the SCS and concerns over Northern Luzon. news.usni.org/2026/02/02/u...
U.S. Army Quietly Stands Up Rotational Force in the Philippines - USNI News
The U.S. Army has stood up a rotational force in the Philippines, according to recently released defense media. Army Rotational Force-Philippines, a previously unknown formation, was revealed for the ...
news.usni.org
U.S. Army Quietly Stands Up Rotational Force in the Philippines — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/02/02/u...
U.S. Army Quietly Stands Up Rotational Force in the Philippines - USNI News
The U.S. Army has stood up a rotational force in the Philippines, according to recently released defense media. Army Rotational Force-Philippines, a previously unknown formation, was revealed for the ...
news.usni.org
Taiwan highlighted the extent of its defensive lines against a Chinese invasion amid Beijing's latest military drills around the island 🇹🇼💥🇨🇳 By @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Taiwan Spotlights Invasion Defense Lines During Chinese Drills - Naval News
Taiwan highlighted the extent of its defensive lines against a Chinese invasion amid Beijing's latest military drills around the island.
navalnews.com
China Wants Nine Aircraft Carriers by 2035, Says New Pentagon Report — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/12/24/c...
China Wants Nine Aircraft Carriers by 2035, Says New Pentagon Report - USNI News
China plans to field a force of nine aircraft carriers by 2035, according to a Defense Department report on Beijing’s military power released on Tuesday. The U.S. report says that the People’s Liberat...
news.usni.org
Philippine and American military officers surveyed Manila’s newest base in the Luzon Strait last week for joint defense operations between the two allies in the country’s northern territories near Taiwan 🇵🇭 🇺🇸 🇹🇼 Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Philippines, U.S. eye Luzon Strait base for joint defense operations - Naval News
A Philippine-U.S. military delegation surveyed a new Luzon Strait base for joint defense operations in the country's north near Taiwan.
navalnews.com
Taiwan’s Coast Guard Attaché held a brief courtesy call with his Philippine counterparts in Manila this week to discuss potential lines of cooperation, including intelligence sharing and capacity-building efforts. My latest with Naval News: www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Philippines and Taiwan Explore Coast Guard Cooperation - Naval News
Philippine and Taiwanese Coast Guard officials met in Manila this week to discuss potential maritime security cooperation activities.
navalnews.com
Philippine and Taiwanese Coast Guard officials met in Manila this week to discuss potential maritime security cooperation activities 🇵🇭 🇹🇼 Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Philippines and Taiwan Explore Coast Guard Cooperation - Naval News
Philippine and Taiwanese Coast Guard officials met in Manila this week to discuss potential maritime security cooperation activities.
navalnews.com
U.S. Strategic Bombers, Japanese Anti-Ship Fighters Take Flight Amid Japan-China Tensions — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/12/11/u...
U.S. Strategic Bombers, Japanese Anti-Ship Fighters Take Flight Amid Japan-China Tensions - USNI News
American strategic bombers trained alongside Japanese aircraft in what Washington and Tokyo described as a demonstration of their resolve following recent military tensions between Japan and China thi...
news.usni.org
🇺🇸 🇨🇳 🇵🇭 A U.S. Navy destroyer was spotted operating near Chinese forces at Scarborough Shoal this week by a Philippine Coast Guard aerial patrol 👇 Story by @aaronmatthewil.bsky.social www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Chinese, U.S. Navies Spotted Operating Near Scarborough Shoal - Naval News
A U.S. Navy destroyer was spotted operating near Chinese forces at Scarborough Shoal this week by a Philippine Coast Guard aerial patrol.
navalnews.com
Philippine Navy Launches Second Korean Offshore Patrol Vessel — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/12/01/p...
Philippine Navy Launches Second Korean Offshore Patrol Vessel - USNI News
Manila’s second Korean-made offshore patrol vessel was launched ahead of schedule last month at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard, marking the latest step in the Philippine Navy’s gradual mo...
news.usni.org
Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Tours Military Bases Near Taiwan — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/11/28/j...
Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Tours Military Bases Near Taiwan - USNI News
Last week, Tokyo’s top defense official toured Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) and Coast Guard facilities across the southwestern islands – including a base located 70 nautical miles away from Taiwan....
news.usni.org
Japan to Procure New Anti-Landing Craft Missiles for Island Defense — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/11/27/j...
Japan to Procure New Anti-Landing Craft Missiles for Island Defense - USNI News
The Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) will procure the next generation of Japanese anti-landing craft missiles next year as Tokyo prioritizes coastal defense systems to defend its southwestern islands. ...
news.usni.org
Two Philippine maritime patrols challenged the presence of China’s warships and cutters at Scarborough Shoal over the last few days, marking Manila’s latest effort to push back against Beijing’s claims over the South China Sea maritime feature 🇵🇭 🇨🇳 www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Philippines Challenges Chinese Forces at Scarborough Shoal - Naval News
The Philippine Coast Guard challenges Chinese forces at Scarborough Shoal in Manila's latest effort to push back against Beijing in the SCS.
navalnews.com