US, Philippines hold joint drone interception drills for first time

The militaries of the United States and the Philippines have for the first time conducted drone interception exercises on the South China Sea coast.

The shoot-down exercises took place on the western part of the Philippine island of Luzon on Sunday. It was part of the joint military drills the two countries have been holding since April 21, which involve a total of over 14,000 people.

In the anti-drone drills, the US military deployed a new mobile air defense system developed to shoot down drones flying at low altitudes. The joint US-Philippines exercises are due to continue until May 9. Remote islands and coasts in the Philippines' north, are also expected to be the venue for landing training in their drills to strengthen cooperation.