US & Israel’s “Intrinsic Defender” Sets Sail
The two-week joint naval drill between the Israeli Navy and the US 5th Fleet will include explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures, maritime and global health management, underwater construction, maritime surveillance, and vessel boarding procedures
Mandi Kogosowski
| 01/08/2023
Photo: IDF website
Maritime security drill “Intrinsic Defender,” held by the US 5th Fleet and the Israeli Navy, kicked off this week in Haifa. The two-week bilateral exercise seeks to enhance navy-to-navy cooperation and international readiness.
Over 50 US service members will participate in this year’s exercise and conduct engagements with Israeli counterparts on explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures, maritime and global health management, underwater construction, maritime surveillance, and vessel boarding procedures.
The IDF said that the exercise’s missions will include joint diving, using unmanned surface vehicles (USV) for locating and eliminating mines, and search and rescue training using special means. In addition, participants will attend lectures and talks about maritime, underwater, and emergency medicine.
“Israel is one of our most capable maritime partners and these exercises further underscore historic military cooperation achieved in recent years,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “Training and operating together strengthen regional maritime security and stability.”
In a statement, the IDF said that “This is a significant exercise, which represents an opportunity for mutual learning, strengthening strategic and operational cooperation, raising the level of operational readiness, and promoting regional partnerships to thwart threats.”
The drill is held against the backdrop of weakening cohesion in the IDF, due to the government’s judicial overhaul legislation. Controversy and disagreement between the plan’s proponents and opponents have inflicted practically every military unit, and the Navy is no exception.
Earlier this month, hundreds of naval commando (Shayetet 13) reservists announced that they are suspending volunteering for duty if the legislation process continues.
“As seamen, we fully understand the meaning of steering a ship through a storm, the potential price. The code that is engraved in each of us is protecting our home, being mission-driven, excelling, being brothers in arms, maintaining uncompromising cohesiveness – these are critical for carrying out our mission,” said the Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy, VADM David Saarr Salama, at the exchange ceremony of the Missile Boats Squadron (Shayetet 3) commander, on Sunday.
The two-week joint naval drill between the Israeli Navy and the US 5th Fleet will include explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures, maritime and global health management, underwater construction, maritime surveillance, and vessel boarding procedures
Photo: IDF website
Maritime security drill “Intrinsic Defender,” held by the US 5th Fleet and the Israeli Navy, kicked off this week in Haifa. The two-week bilateral exercise seeks to enhance navy-to-navy cooperation and international readiness.
Over 50 US service members will participate in this year’s exercise and conduct engagements with Israeli counterparts on explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures, maritime and global health management, underwater construction, maritime surveillance, and vessel boarding procedures.
The IDF said that the exercise’s missions will include joint diving, using unmanned surface vehicles (USV) for locating and eliminating mines, and search and rescue training using special means. In addition, participants will attend lectures and talks about maritime, underwater, and emergency medicine.
“Israel is one of our most capable maritime partners and these exercises further underscore historic military cooperation achieved in recent years,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “Training and operating together strengthen regional maritime security and stability.”
In a statement, the IDF said that “This is a significant exercise, which represents an opportunity for mutual learning, strengthening strategic and operational cooperation, raising the level of operational readiness, and promoting regional partnerships to thwart threats.”
The drill is held against the backdrop of weakening cohesion in the IDF, due to the government’s judicial overhaul legislation. Controversy and disagreement between the plan’s proponents and opponents have inflicted practically every military unit, and the Navy is no exception.
Earlier this month, hundreds of naval commando (Shayetet 13) reservists announced that they are suspending volunteering for duty if the legislation process continues.
“As seamen, we fully understand the meaning of steering a ship through a storm, the potential price. The code that is engraved in each of us is protecting our home, being mission-driven, excelling, being brothers in arms, maintaining uncompromising cohesiveness – these are critical for carrying out our mission,” said the Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy, VADM David Saarr Salama, at the exchange ceremony of the Missile Boats Squadron (Shayetet 3) commander, on Sunday.
