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Unified Warrior

More than 25,000 U.S. joint service members and foreign naval personnel participated in Exercise Unified Warrior and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 01-2, March 9-26, 2001. Both exercises were directed by Army Gen. William F. Kernan, commander in chief, U.S. Joint Forces Command. They were being conducted by Vice Adm. Michael G. Mullen, commander of both the U.S. 2nd Fleet and Striking Fleet Atlantic. When in a training role, he is designated as Commander, Joint Task Force 950.

Exercise Unified Warrior is a multinational at-sea exercise that is designed to evaluate and validate anti-ship missile doctrine and tactics, and features a war-at-sea freeplay element that also emphasizes littoral operations and anti-submarine warfare. Typically a U.S.-German bilateral exercise, Unified Warrior is conducted every two years. In 2001 it was expanded to include forces from the United States, Germany, Canada, Belgium and The Netherlands. It wrapped up March 15.

JTFEX 01-2 follows exercise Unified Warrior and presented U.S. and multinational forces with realistic and dynamic exercise threats that closely replicate the operational challenges military forces routinely encounter around the world. It is designed to meet the requirement for quality, realistic training to fully prepare U.S. forces for joint and combined operations and also provides the Joint Task Force commander, in his training fleet commander role, the opportunity to certify the U.S. Navy carrier battle group (CVBG) and amphibious ready group (ARG) for deployment. Participating forces trained using equipment and systems that incorporate the latest advances in technology, and which support the full range of capabilities that may be needed in various geographic areas.

Unified Warrior took place in the Caribbean, while JTFEX 01-2 utilized the waters off the Virginia and North Carolina coasts. U.S. and multinational forces trained in a simulated high-threat environment that involves air, naval and ground operations, and which incorporates surveillance, rescue and other operations such as maritime interdiction, embassy support and non-combatant evacuation.

Besides the USS Enterprise CVBG and the USS Kearsarge ARG, other participating units include the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, as well as units from Destroyer Squadron 28. Air Force participation includes two E-3B AWACS aircraft from Tinker AFB, Okla.; eight F-15E aircraft from Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C.; four F-16CJ aircraft from Shaw AFB, S.C.; one RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft from Offutt AFB, Neb.; two B-52 aircraft from Barksdale AFB, La.; and one E-8 Joint Stars aircraft from Robins AFB, Ga. International forces include units from various nations and ships of the Standing Naval Forces Atlantic.

The allied MISSILEX Unified Warrior featured U.S. naval units as well as allied units from the Netherlands, Canada, and Belgium against various ASMs fired tactically against allied units by other allied aircraft and surface ships. The box scores revealed tactical, system, and training deficiencies, but also verified current tactics and system capabilities against a very viable threat. A total of 14 Kormoran and two Exocet anti-ship missiles (ASMs) launched by German Tornado aircraft and German ships at the ships in the firing line. The defending ships then employed their air defense systems to engage and destroy the inbound missiles, usually within visual range.