U.S. Forces Conduct Joint Aviation Integration Exercise with UAE and Saudi Arabia

08 June 2021

From 5th Fleet Public Affairs - NAVCENT

MANAMA, Bahrain - U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) conducted multiple simultaneous, joint air operations in support of maritime surface warfare (AOMSW) exercises with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Coast Guard and Joint Aviation Command (JAC), and Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) in the Arabian Gulf, June 1-2.

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The multi-positional exercises demonstrated NAVCENT’s ability to conduct separate joint air and surface operations with partners in different locations, simultaneously.

“Our AOMSW capabilities continue to grow exponentially alongside our partners and joint counterparts,” said Capt. Chris Gilbertson, commander of Destroyer Squadron 50 and Task Force 55, who led the planning and execution of the exercises. “Training at this level of complexity strengthens our ability to communicate, provide command and control and effectively operate across separate groups of forces in different locations.”

210602-A-UN662-1776 ARABIAN GULF (June 2, 2021) – An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, refuels on the flight deck of guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) in the Arabian Gulf, June 2. HSC-26 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three critical chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Wheeler Brunschmid)

210602-A-UN662-1679 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN (June 2, 2021) – Lt. Peter Fulton, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, conducts pre-flight maintenance on an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter onboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, June 2. HSC-26 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three critical chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Wheeler Brunschmid)

210602-A-UN662-1653 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN (June 2, 2021) – Lt. Peter Fulton, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, conducts pre-flight maintenance on an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter onboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, June 2. HSC-26 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three critical chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Wheeler Brunschmid)

210602-A-UN662-1652 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN (June 2, 2021) – Lt. Peter Fulton, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, conducts pre-flight maintenance on an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter onboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, June 2. HSC-26 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three critical chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Wheeler Brunschmid)

210602-A-UN662-1636 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN (June 2, 2021) – Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Daniel Sawitsky, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, conducts pre-flight maintenance on an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter onboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, June 2. HSC-26 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three critical chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Wheeler Brunschmid)

210602-A-MU580-1215 ARABIAN GULF (June 2, 2021) – A Sailor assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 56 participates in a live-fire exercise as part of an air operations in support of maritime surface warfare (AOMSW) exercise in the Arabian Gulf, June 2. CTF 56 commands and controls the employment of tactical Navy expeditionary combat forces in order to maximize U.S. 5th Fleet’s lethality throughout the maritime domain utilizing eight task groups whose missions range from explosive ordnance disposal and salvage diving, Army civil affairs, Naval construction forces and expeditionary logistics support, maritime interdiction operations and maritime security, and embarked security teams. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zion Thomas)

210602-A-MU580-1136 ARABIAN GULF (June 2, 2021) - Patrol boat USCGC Adak (WPB 1304), left, and patrol coastal ship USS Tempest (PC 2) operate in formation during an air operations in support of maritime surface warfare (AOMSW) exercise in the Arabian Gulf, June 2. Adak and Tempest are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three critical choke points to the free flow of global commerce. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zion Thomas)

210602-A-MU580-1061 ARABIAN GULF (June 2, 2021) - Sailors assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 56 deploy a “killer tomato” inflatable target during a live-fire exercise as part of an air operations in support of maritime surface warfare (AOMSW) exercise in the Arabian Gulf, June 2. CTF 56 commands and controls the employment of tactical Navy expeditionary combat forces in order to maximize U.S. 5th Fleet’s lethality throughout the maritime domain utilizing eight task groups whose missions range from explosive ordnance disposal and salvage diving, Army civil affairs, Naval construction forces and expeditionary logistics support, maritime interdiction operations and maritime security, and embarked security teams. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zion Thomas)

The AOMSW exercises included Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) directing a wide variety of platforms to conduct maritime strikes against simulated surface threats attempting to attack coalition forces.

Participating platforms included UAE AH-64D Apache and MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) attack helicopters, U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon multi-role fighters; the RSNF Al Sadiq-class patrol boat Khalid (519); U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk and MH-60S Night Hawk helicopters, U.S. Navy patrol coastal ships USS Tempest (PC 2), USS Hurricane (PC 3), USS Chinook (PC 9), USS Firebolt (PC 10), USS Thunderbolt (PC 12), guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57), guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) and U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats USCGC Adak (WPB 1333), USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318).

A P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft provided exercise-related command and control and reconnaissance support.

“This kind of high-level training with so many partners on multiple fronts at the same time shows how scalable our capabilities are,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “Our joint forces are always ready to respond to maritime threats, alongside our regional and coalition partners, whenever and wherever necessary.”

The 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse is comprised of 20 countries and includes three chokepoints, critical to the free flow of global commerce.

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