‘Canale 2013,’ the bilateral Italo-Maltese aero-naval exercise, is currently taking place in Maltese waters and airspace, with the exercise concluding on the 21st of June. Its aim is to promote co-operation and peace in the Mediterranean region, with particular emphasis on strengthening the cooperation between the ‘5+5 Initiative’ partners.

All units participating in Exercise Canale steamed to the South of the Maltese archipelago to conduct naval maneuvering and Maritime Law Enforcement exercises. On Tuesday afternoon Ship Boarding drills were practised.

Exercise training activities will focus on maritime Search-and-Rescue (SAR), Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) operations and Recognised Maritime Picture (RMP) compilations (through the extensive use of Virtual – Regional Maritime Traffic Centres (V-RMTC) ‘5+5’ NET).

This is the 19th edition of the exercise, planned and organized jointly by the Headquarters Armed Forces of Malta (Training Branch) and the Italian Joint Operational Headquarters (IT JOHQ) coordinated by the AFM Maritime Squadron and involving naval and air units deriving from Mediterranean countries forming part of the “5 + 5 Process.”

Algeria, France, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia have accepted the invitation to take part with surface / air assets or personnel in order to commit staff to be integrated in all the exercise phases and operational levels.

An Exercise Command and Control Centre (ECC) will be established to facilitate realistic training opportunities for participating countries to cooperate in conducting the exercise. The AFM will set up an Air Management & Coordination Cell for the monitoring and management of air assets involved into the exercise based at AFM RCC/Operations Centre under the control of an Air Wing officer.

Such training is in line with larger, already existing, regional initiatives (Mediterranean Dialogue and EUROMED), and make exercise “Canale 13” a significant practical facility for Confidence Building Measures (CBM) and a major step forward for the operational dimension of the “5 + 5 Initiative.”

The exercise enables practical activity which the 10-nation group utilizes in enhancing dialogue between the Northern and Southern shores of the Mediterranean basin.

The exercise has been organised into a number of distinct phases, each designed to exercise its participants in a number of different skills. All assigned tasks will focus towards soft-security issues rather than more traditional war-fighting skills.

The exercise aims at achieving improved cooperation utilising the operational capabilities of the participating air and naval forces. This is met through training of respective participating Commands in the use of common standard procedures so as to promote co-operation between “5+5 Initiative” nations.

It also involves training of respective Naval and Air Commands/Units in the planning of Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations and the correct use of SAR-techniques when assisting personnel and vessels in distress at sea. This helps to foster and exercise forms of integration and co-operation between participating Forces in MLE operations, in order to counter illicit activities at sea .

Units will train in the deployment of security and inspection teams to conduct board and search operations onboard vessels. This ties in with training by Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams in detecting Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) and underwater EOD operations. Such MLE training scenarios simulate naval operations aimed at denying the transit of illicit activities.

Whilst the exercise is underway, training will promote the use of Virtual – Regional Maritime Traffic Centre (V-RMTC) tools in order to develop an Exercise-dedicated Recognised Maritime Merchant Picture (RMMP). This also helps implement and employ a common communications plan for the command and control of joint and combined operations at sea.

On Friday 21stJune, 2013, the Exercise “Canale” Directing-Staff (DS) will host distinguished visitors from the Italian and Maltese authorities onboard Italian Navy vessel “Cigala Fulgosi.”

The achievements and outcome of the exercise will be presented to the VIPs present during a post-exercise conference which will overview the week’s air and maritime training activities and interoperability achieved by the participating forces.

Photographs – AFM Press Office

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