JEDDAH — The United Arab Emirates Joint Aviation Command (JAC) conducted five-day-long combined naval and air training operations with forces assigned to US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) in the southern Arabian Gulf recently. Commenting on the joint drills, US Naval Forces Central Command/C5F (US 5th Fleet) on its official twitter account said: "#UnitedArabEmirate Joint Aviation Command (JAC) conducted combined naval & air training operations with @US5thFleet & @USAFCENT forces in the Arabian Gulf." "#UAE piloted aircraft from the Joint Aviation Command land and take off from the flight deck of the @USNavy expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) during joint naval & air operations." The Air Operations in Maritime Surface Warfare (AOMSW) training, consisted of a combination of aviation and surface assets tracking and engaging simulated fast attack craft. The expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) served as an afloat staging platform for the UAE and US aircraft. UAE pilots also successfully completed deck landing qualifications (DLQs) aboard the Puller, conducting day and night landings and refueling operations with CH-47F, Bell 407, AH-64D, and UH-60M helicopters. Participating US forces included the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft assigned to NAVCENT, and the AFCENT Air Warfare Center (AWC) located at Al Dhafra Air Base, the UAE. Integration operations between the UAE and US maritime forces are regularly held to maintain interoperability, ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce throughout the heavily trafficked waterways. "These training opportunities reinforce partnership commitments in the region, enhance interoperability, and demonstrate UAE and US resolve to respond to threats in the region," said Brigadier Gen. Matthew Trollinger, Commander of Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB). Puller supports Task Force 51/5th MEB's broad range of missions in the US 5th Fleet area of operations which include crisis response, airborne mine countermeasures, counter-piracy operations, maritime security operations, and humanitarian assistance/disaster.
