US, SEA start naval exercise today

From Malaya Business Insight (Aug 21): US, SEA start naval exercise today

UNITED States and Southeast Asian navies and coast guards are due to commence today a maritime exercise, South East Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) Exercise 2017, to improve interoperability in combating terrorism and illegal drugs.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said the 11-day exercise will be held in various parts of the region, including Zambales and Sulu.

Balilo said the activity will kick off today with the conduct of academic seminar in Singapore; boarding workshop in Manila; and command post exercise in Singapore and Brunei.

Balilo said the actual at-sea exercise will be held in Singapore, Brunei and Philippines, including Subic, Zambales and Sulu sea.

“During the last phase, Command Post Exercise/ Field Training Exercise, a number of unscripted boarding provided by the US Navy will be carried out simultaneously in Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines,” said Balilo.

“Aircrafts and vessels from participating navies and coast guards will investigate, conduct and execute practical maritime responses such as MIO (maritime interdiction operation) or VBSS (visit, board and search and seizure),”  he said.

“The SEACAT 2017 will also have two tracking and boarding scenarios in the Philippines that will be conducted by the PCG in the West off Subic, Zambales and Philippine Navy off Sulu Sea respectively,” added Balilo.

Balilo said the PCG has dedicated three ships and about 50 personnel for the annual exerise. It was not immediately clear as to the number of troops and assets that will be deployed for the event.

Meanwhile, the US government is due to handover today a Tethered Aerostat Radar System to the Philippine Navy in a ceremony in San Antonio, Zambales, home to the Naval Education and Training Command.

The donation is scheduled to be turned over by Michael Klescheski, the US Deputy Embassy chief of Mission to the Philippines, to Navy chief Vice Adm. Ronald Joseph Mercado.

Navy spokesman Capt. Lued Lincuna said the balloon-borne radar “is expected to enhance the PN’s capability in maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance by effectively detecting maritime and air traffic within the country’s coastal waters using sensors.”

“Moreover, it will also be utilized in the conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations,” said Lincuna.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/us-sea-start-naval-exercise-today