Egyptian Navy participates in int'l maritime training IMX/CE23
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Elements of the Egyptian Navy and Navy Special Forces recently participated in the joint international maritime training activities (IMX/CE23) in Bahrain and Jordan, a statement by the Egyptian Armed Forces read on Thursday
The training, which ran from February 26 to March 17, involved around 7,000 individuals from 50 different countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
The IMX/CE23 naval training aimed to facilitate the exchange of operational experiences in maritime security and identify international solutions to maintain freedom of navigation and international trade while strengthening military relations with participating countries to support regional stability efforts against potential threats.
Topics covered during the training included the right to visit and inspect suspected ships, and training on remotely piloted marine drone systems. Egypt took over the naval command and control center during the implementation of the training in Bahrain. The IMX/CE23 training is the eighth iteration of the exercise since it was established in 2012.
The participation of Egyptian naval forces in the training underscores the strategic partnership and support for the extended military relations between the Egyptian armed forces and their counterparts from friendly and brotherly countries, according to the statement.
The participating international forces and organizations were divided into five operational task forces that spanned across the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and East African coastal regions. For the first time in the Middle East, U.S. and international partners deployed a long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle called a K1000ULE during the exercise.
Additionally, participants simulated a ship-to-shore patient transfer in Aqaba Gulf using a MARTAC T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessel (USV), marking the first time a USV was used in a medical evacuation training scenario.
The IMX/CE23 training is an affirmation of the strategic partnership and support for the extended military relations between the Egyptian armed forces and their counterparts from friendly and brotherly countries, the statement added. The exercise also highlights the importance of international cooperation in maintaining maritime security and protecting global trade routes.
