In a significant escalation of joint military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, the United States Army deployed and tested a high-powered microwave weapon during the Balikatan 2025 joint military drills with the Philippines. This marks the first deployment of the advanced weapon system in the region and comes at a time of mounting tensions with China, particularly in the South China Sea.
The Balikatan 2025 exercises, which began on April 21 and will conclude on May 9, are the largest joint military drills ever conducted between the United States and the Philippines. Thousands of U.S. troops, supported by advanced vehicles and cutting-edge weapons systems, have arrived in the Philippines to participate in the annual exercises, underscoring deepening military ties between the two nations.
One of the most notable elements of this year’s drills occurred on April 27, when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. forces conducted a rare Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) training session at the Naval Education, Training, and Doctrine Command (NETDC) in Zambales. The event featured the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), which is designed to detect and neutralize aerial threats like drones and helicopters.
But it was the testing of the Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Powered Microwave (IFPC-HPM) system that captured global attention. According to the U.S. Army, the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (1MDTF) tested the IFPC-HPM alongside the Fixed Site-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aerial System Integrated Defeat System (FS-LIDS) on April 28. This combination represents a leap forward in non-kinetic defense capabilities.
The IFPC-HPM is a directed energy weapon that uses microwave beams to disable or destroy electronic components in unmanned aerial systems (UAS). It’s designed to counter increasingly common drone swarm attacks by disrupting their internal circuitry, rendering them inoperable. Unlike traditional kinetic defense systems, microwave weapons can neutralize multiple targets simultaneously at a significantly lower cost.
Capt. Bray McCollum, commander of the 1-51 ADA’s Integrated Fires Protection Capability battery, described the deployment as an “excellent opportunity for joint training” with the Marines and Philippine counterparts. “This is a great opportunity for joint training alongside our short-range air defense counterparts from the U.S. Marines,” he said.
The U.S. Army emphasized that the tropical deployment of the HPM system was not just a tactical exercise, but a strategic demonstration of allied resolve and technological superiority. “This advanced equipment supports the U.S.-Philippine Alliance through enhancing combined military cooperation and advancing our shared commitment to a secure, stable, and free Indo-Pacific region for all,” the Army stated.
The joint exercise integrated the IFPC-HPM with FS-LIDS, which enhances detection and identification of aerial threats. FS-LIDS can track low, slow, and small UAS, and enables the targeting mechanisms of the HPM’s electro-optical infrared camera. The combination provides a layered defense system capable of not just detecting and tracking threats, but also neutralizing them without the need for costly missiles.
The U.S. has been investing heavily in such systems due to the growing threat of drone swarms, which offer adversaries a cheap and effective way to overwhelm traditional air defenses. Directed energy weapons like HPMs are considered critical in countering these threats with high efficiency and low operational costs.
One of the leading companies behind this technology, Epirus, developed the Leonidas HPM system. Leonidas uses powerful microwave pulses to disable electronics in drones, including those operating in coordinated swarms. In January 2023, the U.S. Army awarded Epirus a $66.1 million contract to deliver four prototypes for field testing. All units were delivered in 2024 and have since undergone extensive trials.
The significance of testing such an advanced system in the Indo-Pacific cannot be overstated. It sends a strong message to both allies and adversaries. With tensions escalating in the South China Sea, where China claims nearly the entire maritime area as its sovereign territory, the U.S. and its allies are reinforcing their military posture.
The Philippines, in particular, has found itself increasingly at odds with China. Incidents involving Chinese coast guard vessels harassing Filipino fishermen and ships have grown more frequent and aggressive. Manila has responded by modernizing its military and strengthening its alliance with Washington.
Deploying and testing the IFPC-HPM in the Philippines is part of this broader deterrence strategy. It shows China that the U.S. and its allies are preparing to counter not just traditional threats, but also newer, asymmetric ones like drone swarms and electronic warfare.
China, for its part, has not stood still. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has heavily invested in drone swarm capabilities, developing algorithms that allow drones to fly in coordinated formations, share information, and avoid collisions—essentially acting as a single, intelligent unit.
The largest drone swarm ever displayed was by China, with 1,180 drones performing synchronized aerial maneuvers. Chinese companies, including DJI and state-backed firms, have become world leaders in drone manufacturing, producing systems for surveillance, electronic warfare, and combat operations.
The 1st MDTF is central to the U.S. Army’s evolving Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) strategy. Stationed in the Indo-Pacific, the task force integrates long-range fires, cyber operations, electronic warfare, and advanced air defense systems to penetrate and disrupt enemy anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies—tactics commonly used by China.
With MDTFs also established in Europe, the Arctic, and in global response roles, the U.S. Army aims to create a flexible, technology-driven force that can operate seamlessly across domains. The Balikatan 2025 test of IFPC-HPM highlights how the U.S. is leveraging its forward-deployed forces to experiment with and refine such cutting-edge capabilities.
For the Philippines, participation in these high-tech drills is more than symbolic. As a frontline state in the Indo-Pacific, it faces immediate security challenges from China’s maritime expansion. Learning to operate alongside U.S. forces and gaining exposure to emerging technologies like HPM systems could be vital in bolstering its own defense posture.
The inclusion of Philippine Air Force personnel from the 960th Air and Missile Defense Group in the Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) program signifies an effort to enhance interoperability. Over time, this could evolve into more permanent joint defense arrangements or technology transfers.
Manila’s decision to allow expanded U.S. military presence in its territory under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is already paying dividends in terms of defense capability building. Testing HPM systems in Philippine territory further embeds U.S. technological and tactical assets in the region.
The testing of the IFPC-HPM during Balikatan 2025 represents a watershed moment in regional defense cooperation. It underscores a pivot toward future warfare scenarios where low-cost, high-impact technologies like drones and microwave weapons will dominate the battlefield.
For the United States, it’s a chance to validate its new generation of directed energy weapons in real-world environments. For the Philippines, it’s a step forward in developing credible deterrence amid growing geopolitical risks.
And for China, it’s a clear signal that the U.S.-Philippines alliance is evolving rapidly, both in scale and sophistication, with the capability to respond to threats across all domains—including those yet to be fully realized.
