CARAT 2022 exercise aimed at strengthening MAF’s combat capabilities

Among the many Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the United States Navy taking part in the exercise.
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KUANTAN – The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the United States Navy are continuing the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT 2022) exercise from today to Nov 30.

The exercise which was last hosted in 2018 was not organised after that due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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According to Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff J3 headquarters, First Admiral Baharudin Wan Md Nor, the bi-annual exercise which is themed ‘Maritime Security’ would be carried out around this district as well as in the waters of the South China Sea and would involve members and officers of the MAF (303 personnel) and the US Navy (300).

He said the exercise is aimed at improving military ties between both countries and improving the combat capabilities and maritime security sharing in line with international laws, norms and standards.

“As agreed, Maritime Security has been chosen as the broad concept for this year’s exercise. While we recognise the fact that there is no internationally agreed definition on the term, the more common understanding is that it is used to describe both existing, and new regional and international challenges to the safety and sovereignty in the maritime domain.

“Issues in this regard range from piracy and armed robbery at sea, smuggling and drug trafficking, port security as well as war or war like risk. To ensure that we are ready for these unfortunate events, we need practices, and the CARAT Series of Exercises are one of those important platforms that significantly assist us in improving or (having the) capacity to do so,” he said in his speech when officiating at the Joint Warfare Centre, Al-Sultan Abdullah Camp, here today.

CARAT 22 involves the port phase which will focus on a seminar programme and discussions involving ‘Subject Matter Expert’ theoretically and practically which includes medical seminars, Manned Aerial System (UAS) seminars, Anti-Submarine Warfare seminars and Force Protection seminars.

As for the ocean phase, it is a field training exercise involving three-dimensional warfare activities to face traditional and non-traditional threats that will take place in the waters of the South China Sea. – Bernama

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