CARAT/MAREX Indonesia 2022

23 Desember 2022

USS Makin Island LHD-8 and USS Anchorage LPD-23 alongside with KRI Surabaya 591 LPD, KRI Raden Eddy Martadinata-331, KRI Abdul Halim Perdanakusuma-355, KRI Diponegoro-365, KRI Teluk Palu-523, KRI Singa-651 (all photos : DVIDS)

PACIFIC OCEAN – U.S. Marines with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island and amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage sail alongside vessels of the Indonesian Navy during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training/ Marine Exercise (MAREX) Indonesia 2022, Dec. 18.

U.S. Marine F-35B Lightning II pilots with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fly in formation with a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon and Indonesian Air Force F-16s during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training/ Marine Exercise (MAREX) Indonesia 2022, Dec. 18.

CARAT/MAREX Indonesia is a bilateral exercise between Indonesia and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. In its 28th year, the CARAT series is comprised of multinational exercises, designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies’ and marine corps abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) will also participate in CARAT 2022. Additional U.S. assets and personnel participating in the exercise include Helicopter Sea Squadron (HSC) 21, a P-8A Poseidon assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 72, and personnel from U.S. 7th Fleet, CTF 72, 73, 75, 76/3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, Amphibious Squadron (COMPHBIRON) 7, 13th MEU, and Naval Special Warfare.

This year’s iteration of CARAT Indonesia will focus largely on amphibious operations with an ashore bilateral command and control (C2) center made up of Indonesian and U.S. service members. U.S. assets and personnel supporting the amphibious operations include the Makin Island Amphibious Readiness Group with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

(DVIDS)