Aman-2009 multinational naval exercise organized by Pakistan Navy

Naval ships of different countries in Aman 2009 exercise

Chinese naval ship in Pakistan to participate in Aman 2009 exercise

British naval ship in Pakistan to participate in Aman 2009 exercise

CONCEPT

Exercise AMAN 09 was designed to develop and improve Response Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (RTTP) with focus on GWOT,based on offensive and defensive operations to protect SLOCs and port infrastructure of a country against asymmetric threat.

OBJECTIVES

1.Refine C3 procedures and tactics.

2.Improve inter-operability and tactical proficiency.

3.Conduct defense of port infrastructure including anchorage against an asymmetric threat.

4.Promote ASuW / Air operations and its related interoperability between the participating units.

5.Develop common tactics against asymmetric air, surface, and mine threats

6.Integration of MPAs and Fighters into various type of exercises.

7.Demonstration of MCM capabilities through conduct of MCM operations in a potentially hostile air and surface environment.

Media personnel performed a sea drill at the conclusion of the Aman-2009 multinational naval exercise, thereby becoming part of the exercises. They were taken onboard two Pakistan Navy (PN) main warships, PNS Tippu Sultan and PNS Tariq, to witness the first day of the operational sea of the Aman exercise that remained in progress from March 9 to March 12.Out of the 38 countries from different regions, navies of 11 countries actively participated in the Aman 2009 maritime exercise, bringing their ships, aircraft, naval officers, and sailors.

Eight warships of Pakistan Navy and 11 other ships from navies of the USA, the UK, Bangladesh, China, Australia, France and Malaysia were present on the first day of the operational sea phase of Aman exercise.In the evening, these ships also took part in a surface firing competition in the open sea. The main surface guns of ships fired at a glowing target in the open sea dropped at a distance of seven to eight Nautical Miles.

As the two PN warships, of type-21 class and Britain made, had to remain in the open seas during four days of operational phase of the Aman, news personnel were shifted from PNS Tippu Sultan and PNS Tariq to two missile boats of PN for their return journey to the naval dockyard at the Karachi port. This shifting – in maritime and naval warfare terms – is called Personnel Replenishment at sea between ships.The personnel replenishment exercise in the open sea took place through small “Zulu” boats. A wooden ship ladder and two ropes hanging seaward vertically from the ship were used to help descending journalists; an activity demanding mental alertness and physical balance to enable them to safely get down onto the small rubber-inflated boats.

It took at least 90 minutes for the crews of PNS Tippu Sultan and PNS Tariq and those riding the Zulu boats including the PN divers to ensure the safe transfer of journalists from the ships to the missile boats.Officials and sailors at the warships and missile boats said that the phenomenally calm and smooth sea conditions during personnel replenishment were instrumental in the safe vessel-to-vessel transfer of media personnel, which included a female journalist.PN spokesman Commander Salman Ali said that by involving the media in the personnel replenishment exercise between ships, they were given a chance to have a glimpse of the outstanding mental and physical alertness, fitness, and determined ruggedness required of the seafarers associated with the country’s naval force.

The dropping of PN commandos on deck of moving ships through Sea King helicopters was also highly appreciated by news personnel.Lieutenant Zia, who led the squad of Special Service Group of the navy which landed on PNS Tippu Sultan, said that the aerial dropping technique of commandos, which is otherwise called Visit Boat Search and Seize operation against enemy ships, had attained salience once again in the backdrop of international maritime efforts against pirates operating off the coast of Somalia.The visiting newsmen also witnessed joint flypast by helicopters, maritime surveillance aircraft and fighter jets from Pakistan Navies and naval forces of other participating countries. The participation of P-3C Orion of the Japanese navy and Mirage-5 fighter jets of No. 8 Squadron of PN were the distinguishing features of the flypast.

Alouette helicopters of PN performed deck landing on warships. Helicopters of other participating naval forces performed cross deck landing on each other’s ships.Talking to media personnel, Commanding Officer of PNS Tippu Sultan Captain Zubair Shafique said that warships from different navies of the world had been participating in the sea exercise to understand operational procedures utilised by other naval forces against common maritime threats.He added that the joint exercise would help in increasing interoperability of various naval forces against common maritime menaces of terrorism, piracy, drug, and human smuggling.

Posted in: Naval,Pakistan