13 Mar 23. Military forces of Oman and US participate in Exercise Invincible Sentry. The crisis response exercise is sponsored by the US Central Command (CENTCOM). Military forces of the US and Oman have successfully taken part in a bilateral crisis-response exercise named Invincible Sentry 2023. The recurring exercise, held annually, aims to train the participating personnel on responses to crises.
It is sponsored by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and conducted with a different partner country within CENTCOM’s area of responsibility.
The Omani and US military personnel carried out their training events at locations and military training areas that were selected by the Omani Government.
The forces also conducted an exercise event at CENTCOM headquarters on MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, US.
It helped the members to evaluate their crisis-response planning and ability to implement and prove performance in critical mission areas while improving staff expertise.
During the exercise, the participants made use of scenarios consisting of a simulated transnational security threat. (Source: army-technology.com)
15 Mar 23. US-ROK forces commence bilateral exercise Freedom Shield 23. The 11-day long exercise aims to strengthen combined defensive posture of the two nations. The US and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Marine Corps have officially commenced the bilateral exercise Freedom Shield 2023.
The annual exercise is conducted to solidify the combined defensive capabilities of the US-ROK forces to operate effectively in the ever-changing security environment.
Deployed units from the US Marine Corps (USMC) include III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) in Okinawa, Japan, and the 1st Marine Division, I MEF.
The participating US marines leveraged different transportation modes, including the KC-130J tanker aircraft and high-speed transport vessel USNS Guam (T-HST-1), to reach home stations in South Korea.
As part of this exercise, the participating USMC units will create a combined marine component command (CMCC) with their South Korean counterparts.
This CMCC is formed to provide a flexible option to the commanders for the projection of forces from the sea for safeguarding the Korean peninsula, whenever required.
Under this CMCC, the forces will rehearse force-wide command and control activities in a series of realistic computer-based scenarios to learn how to minimise response time during times of crisis.
USMC lead planner major Patrick Majeski said: “This exercise showcases III MEF’s posture by projecting power from multiple locations to enhance the integrated defence of our allies and partners as a stand-in force for the Indo-Pacific.”
Just a day before the commencement of US-ROK bilateral drills on 12 March, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) test-launched two ‘strategic cruise missiles’ from the Gyeongpo Mansu area of the Korean East Sea.
This was reported on 13 March by the Korean Central News Agency, whose report claimed that the exercise aimed to showcase the readiness and capabilities of DPRK’s armed forces to respond to the ‘anti-republic military manoeuvres’ of the US and South Korea. (Source: naval-technology.com)
15 Mar 23. US and Philippine armies hold ‘Salaknib’ training exercise. This year’s exercise will see over 3,000 troops train in a variety of military operations. The US Army Pacific (USARPAC) and the Philippine Army (PA) are conducting the annual bilateral training exercise, Salaknib 2023 (SN23).
An opening ceremony was held in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
The army-to-army exercise will see participation of approximately 3,000 troops from the USARPAC’s 25th Infantry Division (25ID) and the PA’s 5th Infantry Division, 7th Infantry Division, and 1st Brigade Combat Team.
Philippine Army chief lieutenant general Romeo Brawner Jr. was quoted by the Philippine News Agency (pna) as saying: “Indeed, there is much more we can learn from each other, and much more that we can do together, in the interest of Indo-Pacific security and wider security regional connectivity.”
He added: “In learning together, we enhance the capabilities and capacities to work together within the ever changing dynamics of global developments and Indo-Pacific concerns.”
The exercise, which will take place until 4 April, is intended to improve the readiness of the armed forces, boost relationships, and enhance interoperability between the 25ID and PA allies.
The participating personnel will train in a variety of military operations, such as various small-arms and manoeuvre live fire exercises (LFX), jungle training events, artillery, and mortar LFX events.
The troops will also take part in engineering and construction projects.
Philippine Army spokesperson colonel Xerxes Trinidad told pna: “The training audience will conduct bilateral exercises in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, and other venues in Central Luzon and Northern Luzon. ‘Salaknib”s first phase will precede Exercise ‘Balikatan’, slated for April 2023, while its second phase is scheduled for the third quarter of 2023.”
Last year, as many as 2,200 Filipino and US Army troops took part in the exercise. The first iteration of the exercise was held in 2016. (Source: army-technology.com)
14 Mar 23. US, Israeli forces commence exercise Red Flag-Nellis 23-2. Established in 1975, Red Flag is a combat warfare exercise that allows the USAF to strengthen interoperability with its allies. Personnel and aircraft from the US Air Force (USAF), Air National Guard (ANG) and Marine Corps (USMC) have begun combat training exercise Red Flag-Nellis 23-2.
The exercise is being conducted from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada between 12 and 24 March.
The training activity aims to enhance the interoperability between the US and other nations’ participating forces, including the USAF’s 414th Combat Training Squadron and the Israeli Air Force.
The latest iteration of Red Flag-Nellis primarily aims to hone the capabilities of the participating warfighters as well as to strengthen alliances of US European and Central Command.
This effort saw participation of Israel’s F-35I Adir fighter aircraft, with special focus on improving the readiness for high-end warfighting and strategic operations.
USAF 414th Combat Training Squadron commander colonel Jared Hutchinson said: “The Israeli F-35 participation in Red Flag 23-2 is another step forward for America and its allies in the transition to the next level of air warfare.
“It’s a rare opportunity for warfighters from both countries to integrate our most advanced capabilities. As the Fifth-Generation Center of Excellence, Nellis AFB is uniquely capable of hosting allied F-35 units on the ground and challenging them in the air.”
During this edition of Red Flag-Nellis, the drills will involve representation of realistic threat systems, around 2,200 targets and an enemy force to replicate different combat scenarios at the Nellis AFB and the Nevada Test and Training Range. (Source: airforce-technology.com)