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Phoenix Express 2006 Preparation Reflects Navy Vision from CNO Guidance

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060601-13
6/1/2006

By Lt. Enid Wilson, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8 Public Affairs

ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- Representatives from six countries attended a pre-sail conference May 30-31 aboard USS Saipan (LHA 2) in Rota, Spain, to review details for the upcoming combined multinational exercise, Phoenix Express 2006.

Participants from Algeria, France, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, and the United States met to discuss the schedule of events and exchange liaison officers before the start of the exercise. Commander, Amphibious Squadron (COMPHIBRON) 8, assigned to Commander, Amphibious Group 2 in Little Creek, Va., is leading Phoenix Express 2006 as Commander, Task Force 64, under the direction of Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet.

“This exercise is supporting the Navy vision in our Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) 2006 Guidance,” said Capt. Robert Bougher, COMPHIBRON 8. “By continuing the strengthening of international relationships and deepening cooperation among the maritime forces we are ultimately helping to keep sea lanes open, providing greater security for all.”

Saipan, of Norfolk, Va., and USS Simpson (FFG 56), of Mayport, Fla., will spend the next two weeks training with the foreign naval ships as they strive to improve interoperability in tactical operations, including maritime interdiction operations, aviation operations, firefighting, medical training, search and rescue, ship handling, towing, and underway replenishment.

According to PHIBRON 8 Chief Staff Officer Capt. Al Nugent, Phoenix Express 2006 will additionally challenge the crews of the participating ships on an advanced staff operational level, including information sharing through the Automatic Identification System (AIS).

AIS is a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) system that detects and identifies maritime contacts and provides an inexpensive mechanism for collecting, displaying and sharing shipping information.

“Using real data to enhance our ability to fuse information and connect the dots will allow us to determine who to focus our surveillance assets on [for the exercise],” Nugent said.

The data will be compiled via the Internet in a multinationally-manned fusion center aboard Saipan, allowing operators to become familiar with the benefits of AIS.

According to Nugent, the knowledge of AIS will independently improve each unit’s ability to detect and identify contacts. Eventually, when that information is routinely shared, the improved maritime picture will contribute to better availability of information on international networks empowering worldwide security efforts.

Commander, Task Force 64 begins Phoenix Express 2006 in June, in support of Commander, Naval Forces Europe’s strategic priority of strengthening enduring and emerging partnerships.