The Colombian navy will host this yr’s UNITAS, which can function 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 plane (fastened wing/helicopter), and roughly 7,000 individuals from 20 companion nations. Forces will conduct coaching operations off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, and ashore in Covenas and Barranquilla, Colombia, by way of July 21. This yr marks the sixty fourth iteration of the train. Moreover, this yr Colombia will have fun the bicentennial of its navy, a historic milestone commemorating 200 years of the nation’s maritime forces.
“UNITAS is a lot greater than a two week train. All collaborating nations have given a lot time, vitality and energy into the months of planning main as much as what shall be one of the crucial complicated UNITAS to this point,” mentioned Rear Admiral Jim Aiken, commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. “Using air, floor, sub-surface, and unmanned property, and land models, UNITAS will present the multinational drive a difficult surroundings by which to conduct coaching throughout the total spectrum of maritime operations. UNITAS strengthens maritime partnerships, enhances proficiency and improves interoperability of the collaborating forces, which is why so many companion nations are participating this yr.”
As a part of the U.S. Navy’s future hybrid fleet, the Chief of Naval Operations has tasked U.S. 4th Fleet to scale unmanned platforms to the fleet stage. An addition to this yr’s UNITAS will embrace the built-in operations of unmanned air, floor, and subsurface programs into the train. UNITAS’ difficult coaching handle key features of multinational and mixed operations resembling know-how standardization and customary working procedures.
“That is our first alternative to combine unmanned programs into our operations at sea,” mentioned Rear Adm. Aiken. “UNITAS has usually served as a take a look at mattress for know-how, so it’s applicable that we start our unmanned integration marketing campaign to operationalize the hybrid fleet right here in UNITAS.”
Along with the US, UNITAS LXIV will carry collectively 19 nations from everywhere in the world to coach forces in joint maritime operations that improve tactical proficiency and improve interoperability. Taking part nations embrace Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Spain, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.
Following the UNITAS LXIV Opening Ceremony on July 12, the in port part of the train will function material professional exchanges, skilled symposia, ship rider exchanges, and operations conferences. Throughout this time, Marines and Sailors will conduct expeditionary coaching occasions in Covenas to incorporate riverine operations and diving and salvage operations.
Throughout the UNITAS LXIV Underway Part, forces will take part in occasions testing all warfare operations, to incorporate live-fire workout routines resembling a SINKEX and an amphibious ship-to-shore touchdown and drive retraction.
“Marines and Sailors from throughout the US will journey to Colombia to not solely prepare alongside our companion nations’ militaries, however to hone the abilities required to function as half of a bigger maritime drive centered on sea management and sea denial,” mentioned Lt. Gen. David G. Bellon, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Reserve. “We shall be exercising command and management from a ahead place as Marines arrange and make use of Expeditionary Superior Base Operations to boost naval capabilities as a part of UNITAS.”
U.S. forces collaborating in UNITAS LXIV embrace USS New York (LPD 21), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Little Rock (LCS 9), USS Pasadena (SSN 752), and USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10). Different U.S. contributors embrace Patrol Squadron 5 (VP 5), Cell Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Cell Unit (EOD) 612, Mine Countermeasures Group 3, (MCMGRU 3), Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures EOD Firm 61 (EODMU 61), East-coast primarily based Naval Particular Warfare models, Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron 22 (HSC 22), Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 Detachment 2 (HSM 70 Det 2), Joint Communications Assist Factor (JCSE), Fleet Surgical Crew (FST) Eight, and the Meteorological Environmental Crew (MET). U.S. Marine forces embrace third Battalion, twenty third Marine Regiment (3/23), 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion (4th AABn), eighth Fight Logistic Battalion (CLB 8), 4th Fight Engineer Battalion (4th CEB), Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774 (VMM 774), Marine Mild Helicopter Assault Squadron 775 (HMLA 775), Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234), Marine Plane Management Group – 48 (MACG-48), and Marine Fighter Assault Squadron 112 (VMFA-112). Lastly, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40, (COMDESRON 40), Commander, Amphibious Squadron 4 (COMPHIBRON FOUR), U.S Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH), Particular Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT, and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) are collaborating in UNITAS LXIV.
UNITAS, which is Latin for unity, united, or oneness, was conceived in 1959 throughout a earlier period of strategic competitors when representatives on the first Inter-American Naval Convention in Panama agreed to conduct an annual maritime train with each other. Previous to UNITAS I in 1960, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Arleigh Burke reviewed preparations for the multinational train. He recommended planners for his or her progress, particularly in constructing suitable communication programs amongst navies, and predicted that UNITAS would construct sturdy relationships amongst Sailors of the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet helps U.S. Southern Command’s joint and mixed navy operations by using maritime forces in cooperative maritime safety operations to keep up entry, improve interoperability, and construct enduring partnerships with the intention to improve regional safety and promote peace, stability and prosperity within the Caribbean, Central and South American area.
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South is the Marine Corps element to U.S. Southern Command, is chargeable for planning workout routines, operations, and general Marine Corps help for the SOUTHCOM assigned space of accountability.
