• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

VP-9 Participates in Phoenix Express 2014

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS140606-18
Release Date: 6/6/2014 10:40:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Amber Porter, VP-9 Public Affairs

SIGONELLA, Italy (NNS) -- SIGONELLA, Italy - Sailors from Patrol Squadron (VP) 9 participated in the flight phase of Phoenix Express 2014, which wrapped up June 4.

The exercise provided VP-9 an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of their P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) and helped refine their Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) tactics and procedures. Greek and Algerian MPRA crew members also flew aboard the aircraft in an effort to share best practices and techniques for conducting coordinated MIO evolutions with participating surface vessels.

On June 1, nearing the completion of operations, the focus quickly shifted from training forces to an actual search and rescue operation. The P-3C crew was tasked with locating a vessel in distress and passing the vessel's location to Maltese officials coordinating the real-world rescue effort.

'Today was a perfect example of why these exercises between allies are so important. The transition from a training event to a real world mission was transparent for our crew and we were glad to help people in distress,' said Lt. Derrick Bruce, the crew's mission commander.

Phoenix Express is a multinational maritime exercise designed to improve coordination between U.S., European and North African forces with the focus on improving maritime safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea. Marking its eighth year, the U.S. Africa Command sponsored exercise included participants from Algeria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey.

VP-9 is forward deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations and is currently assigned to Commander, Task Force 67, responsible for tactical control of deployed maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadrons throughout the European and African areas of responsibility.