On June 17, the U.S. Navy concluded its ninth annual exercise Valiant Shield, a high-end unilateral field training exercise, after 12 days of combat exercises designed to hone the ability to win at sea, in the air, on land and in cyberspace. required skills.
The exercise took place in the Joint Area Mariana Islands Operations Area, which includes Palau, Guam Naval Base, Andersen Air Force Base, as well as the offshore Mariana Islands complex and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Multiple training scenarios and demonstrations built upon the pinnacle event, the Sinking Exercise (SINKEX), centered on a retired former USS Vandegrift frigate, testing the effectiveness of modern weapons on ship designs and aircraft.
SINKEX participants include aircraft carrier 5th Wing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reaganguided missile destroyer USS Benfold It fired surface-to-surface missiles, attack submarine USS Key West, and B-1B bombers from the U.S. Air Force’s 28th Bomb Wing, as well as F-18 and F-35B fighter jets from the U.S. Marine Corps’ Sea Fighter Strike Squadron. Navy Seventh Fleet, aboard amphibious assault ship USS Diatomaceous earthto coordinate the process of live ammunition.
The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force deployed its M142 High Mobility Rocket Artillery System (HIMARS) for HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HI-RAIN) in Palau via Air National Guard C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, while the U.S. Army demonstrated Its participating capability is a simulated cruise missile with targeting data provided by USAF F-35A fighter jets.
The latter demonstration, conducted for the first time in Palau, involved assets of the U.S. Army’s 1st Pacific Air Defense Artillery Regiment, which launched two PAC-2 Patriot interceptors to intercept drone-targeted cruise missiles that mimicked enemy signatures and flight characteristics.
At the same time, Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) also demonstrated a number of capabilities such as coastal patrol, construction, expeditionary diving, explosive ordnance disposal, maritime and port security, and logistics support. A particular highlight of NECC’s involvement was its Automated Construction of Expeditionary Structures (ACES), which demonstrated its concrete 3D printing capabilities designed for expeditionary environments.
“This exercise is an excellent opportunity to conduct integrated deterrence, which is the cornerstone of our approach,” said Rear Admiral Rob Chadwick, director of the Valor Shield 22 joint exercise control group. “We combine our efforts across all domains of operations and conflicts to ensure that the United States, along with our allies and partners, can deter or defeat aggression in any form or domain.”
Although Brave Shield 2022 has just ended, the U.S. Navy will begin another massive exercise. It will lead the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands and the Southern California region from June 29 to August 4. RIMPAC 2022 will involve around 25,000 people from 26 countries. The exercise will also include 38 surface ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and nine national army units.
by Jr Ng
