Philippine Army chief views Australian air defence system at Land Forces 2026 in Perth

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 08, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran examined Australia’s National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) on Wednesday, October 7, during the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in Western Australia.

Land Forces is Australia’s largest land defence exhibition and is held every two years. This year’s edition opened Tuesday, Oct. 6, and is the first to be staged in Western Australia.

NASAMS is a ground-based air defence system developed by Norwegian firm Kongsberg and US company Raytheon. It is designed to defend against fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and drones.

The Australian Army is acquiring an enhanced version of the system under Project LAND 19 Phase 7B. Australia’s version includes locally designed radars and other domestically developed components, and it replaces the Army’s earlier shoulder- and tripod-launched air defence missiles.

Gumiran took command of the Philippine Army on August 11, becoming its 68th commanding general. He succeeded Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, who was named chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Before his appointment, Gumiran led the AFP Western Mindanao Command.

At the change-of-command ceremony, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed Gumiran to continue the Army’s shift toward external defence. 

Marcos tasked him with building a force capable of securing the country’s land domain and supporting joint operations, and said the transition must go hand in hand with continued modernization.

In his assumption speech, Gumiran said he aims to build a stronger, more capable and “future-ready” Army.

The Philippine Army has not released further details about Gumiran’s participation in the exhibition.