Overview
UNITAS is an annual exercise conducted in Atlantic and Pacific waters around Central and South America. UNITAS LXV included maritime and in-port training phases. The exercise develops and sustains relationships that increase the capacity of our emerging and enduring partners’ maritime forces to achieve common desired effects. UNITAS supports the training requirements of all participating nations and provides effective training to enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability.
Training Scenarios
UNITAS' challenging training addresses key aspects of multinational and combined operations such as technology standardization and common operating procedures. Training included scenarios addressing electronic warfare, anti-air warfare and air defense, anti-surface warfare, live fire, maritime interdiction, littoral operations, and amphibious operations.
The In-Port Phase of the exercise featured subject matter expert exchanges, professional symposia, ship rider exchanges, and operations meetings. During this time, Marines and Sailors conducted training events in Valparaiso to include medical, cyber defense, and diving and salvage operations.
During the Underway Phase, forces participated in events testing all warfare operations, to include live-fire exercises such as a SINKEX and an amphibious ship-to-shore landing and force withdrawal.
Unmanned Systems training: Unmanned and hybrid fleet systems returned for a second year to UNITAS with the presence of unmanned undersea vehicles. As part of the U.S. Navy’s future hybrid fleet, the Chief of Naval Operations has tasked U.S. 4th Fleet to scale unmanned platforms to the fleet level.
Women, Peace and Security Symposium: UNITAS LXV featured a forum on the topic of women, peace and security. The forum is part of a global effort to support the contributions of women in the defense and security sectors around the world. The program is a cornerstone to SOUTHCOM’s mission of promoting security partnerships across the Western Hemisphere.
Participating Nations
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.
Participating U.S. Forces
- USS Germantown (LSD 42)
- USS St Louis (LCS 19)
- USS Hampton (SSN 767)
- Patrol Squadron Five (VP 5)
- Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD) 2
- Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (MCMGRU TWO)
- Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50 Detachment 4 (HSM 50 Det 4)
- 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7)
- 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment (1/24)
- 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (4th LAR)
- 4th Reconnaissance Battalion (4th Recon)
- Combat Logistic Regiment 4 (CLR 4)
- 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines (2/14)
- Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234)
- Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48 (MWCS-48)
- Marine Aircraft Control Group – 48 (MACG-48)
- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112)
- U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET)
- USCG Maritime Security Response Team East (MSRTE) Direct Action Section
- Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40, (COMDESRON 40)
- Commander, Amphibious Squadron Seven (COMPHIBRON SEVEN)
- U.S Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH)
- U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT)
- U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)
Background
UNITAS I took place in 1960 with forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, the United States, and Venezuela. This year marked the 65th iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise.