The mixed naval drill “Blue Defender 21”, carried out by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) with its US counterpart in the Red Sea, has been concluded in the Western Fleet Wednesday.

The drill included a number of scenarios in which naval units, support boats, landing ships and a group of helicopters participated in to implement practical and tactical maneuvers.

The INDIGO DEFENDER-21 exercise witnessed the implementation of many joint maneuvers which included fighting in residential areas, storming buildings, training on beach reconnaissance, carrying out combat patrols, free shooting, removing mines and carrying out amphibious operations' exercises, which is the sea landing process, in which the participants demonstrated the highest standards of readiness with all professionalism, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The exercise also included a number of scenarios in which naval units, support boats, landing ships and a group of helicopters participated in to implement practical applications and tactical maneuvers, in addition to conducting many theoretical lectures in various maritime and strategic fields.

The mixed bilateral naval exercise was launched Sunday 17 October 2021. The Assistant Commander of the Western Fleet, Commander of the exercise, Admiral Mansour bin Saud Al-Juaid, and Naval Colonel Daniel Bailey of the US Navy were present at this launch, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The exercise Commander explained that the maneuvers, which lasts for ten days, aim to strengthen relations and military cooperation, raise the level of combat readiness between the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and the US Navy, and exchange experiences in the field of port protection, removing mines on land and underwater.

In addition, the exercise aims to contribute to the development of security capabilities by protecting the safety of the seas and regional and international waterways, to ensure freedom of maritime in the Red Sea, Admiral Al-Juaid added.

The drill maneuvers further strengthen the military relations and cooperation between the Saudi and US Naval Forces, raise the combat readiness, and exchange experiences.

The exercise also aims to enrich the leadership and combat experiences of the participants, to accommodate the requirements of naval military action because of its importance in raising the level of military efficiency, as well as upgrading combat readiness and exchanging military expertise and skills in various naval operations, in addition to enhancing coordination and achieving the desired integration in the field of mixed marine operations.