CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh-- The U.S. and Bangladesh Navy concluded exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Nov. 7.
Sailors and Marines across five ships and various shore-based aircraft, conducted a series of cooperative evolutions ashore and at-sea with the Bangladesh navy. Joint evolutions are designed to promote interoperability between nations and ensure maritime security capability.
The sea phase included an Expendable Mobile Anti-Submarine Training Target Exercise (EMATTEX), testing both navies’ ability to track and pursue targets through the coordinated movement of maritime patrol aircrafts and surface vessels. It is designed to improve communication between forces during maritime operations.
The shore phase included exchanges between subject matter experts on a wide range of topics including Anti-Submarine Warfare and maintenance operations for aircraft.
Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 participated in several exercises and community outreach events while attending CARAT to include an EMATTEX, and giving Bangladeshi service members a static tour of a P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
“This was an excellent opportunity to perform maritime operations at a high level for both the U.S. Navy as well our Bangladeshi counterparts,” said Lieutenant Commander Joseph Gilligan, Officer in charge for the VP-45 crew who participated in CARAT. “Opportunities such as CARAT are vital to improving interoperability between nations, and strengthening our maritime defense. I am very proud of how well our crew performed during this exercise, and look forward to continue sharpening and honing our war fighting capabilities.”
Along with the annual CARAT exercise, the U.S. and Bangladesh Navy continue to participate in a growing number of bilateral and multilateral maritime exercises. Maritime exercises such as CARAT are conducted between nations to streamline the efficiency of maritime operations in the future, highlighting maritime security, sharing information and operational awareness.
With nearly a half century of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Bangladesh, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the CARAT exercise series with bilateral engagements between a dozen ally and partner nations including Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
VP-45, based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, is operating from Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan. The squadron is conducting maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as theater outreach operations within U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2019 19:45 |
| Story ID: | 351020 |
| Location: | CHITTAGONG, BD |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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