Allies and robots: Navy joins 60 nations in International Maritime Exercise
This year's IMX will include a focus on how unmanned systems can change naval operations, from rescue operations to endurance missions.
By Justin Katz on February 02, 2022 at 3:09 PM
WASHINGTON: The United States and dozens of partner nations will bring together their naval forces for joint exercises in the Middle East this month with a focus on demonstrating how unmanned systems change how their respective militaries operate both alone and in conjunction with one another.
“This is a unique opportunity to increase our capabilities and interoperability while strengthening maritime ties,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, in a written statement after the exercise launched Monday.
The International Maritime Exercise (IMX), an 18-day biennial event first held in 2012 and the largest maritime exercise held in the Middle East, will include 50 ships, 9,000 personnel and 60 partner countries. The event is being combined with the US 6th Fleet exercise known as Cutlass Express, and will involve the US 5th Fleet, the Navy command located in Bahrain and also led by Cooper, which previously established a special panel focused on unmanned technology in September 2021.
https://breakingdefense.com/2022/02/allies-and-robots-navy-joins-60-nations-in-international-maritime-exercise/
