Multinational exercise begins in South Atlantic
11/4/2004 - MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AFPN) -- The Atlantic phase of Unitas, the largest and longest-held naval exercise in the Americas, began here Nov. 3. This two-week exercise incorporates for the first time a U.S. Air Force unit that joins ships, aircraft and submarines from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Spain and the United States.
The 5th Special Operations Squadron, from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the first U.S. Air Force unit to take part in the 46-year history of the exercise. The Airmen will be conducting search and rescue training with a C-130 Hercules aircraft.
Held each year since 1959, Unitas, Latin for "unity," conducts naval exercises with South American naval forces supporting U.S. foreign policy in the region. The exercise improves operational readiness and interoperability among participants. Unitas features realistic training opportunities in undersea warfare, anti-air and anti-surface warfare, amphibious operations, electronic warfare, special warfare and counter-narcotic operations.
The Uruguayan navy is the host of the two-week phase. |
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