Naval Forces Conclude SIFOREX

SIFOREX is a biennial Naval exercise that focuses on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) proficiency. Naval forces from Brazil, Colombia, Peru and the U.S participated in SIFOREX 2014.

SIFOREX 2014 was hosted by the Peruvian navy, and took place in the Southern Pacific beginning September 29. The exercise immediately followed UNITAS, the U.S. Navy’s longest running multinational maritime exercise, where 14 partner nations cooperated in a vast array of maritime scenarios.

This year’s U.S. participants included USS Ingraham (FFG 61), P-8 Poseidon from VP-45 and P-3 Orion from VP-26, and Commander Destroyer Squadron 40 (COMDESRON40) staff.

“SIFOREX has been a great opportunity for the Sailors to operate with a live submarine,” said Senior Chief Sonar Technician-Surface Paul Dammon, of the USS Ingraham (FFG 61). “The fact that it is a diesel submarine provides an added challenge; it is not every day that my Sailors have the chance to search for and track live sub-surface contacts, especially alongside our partner nations. It has been a great opportunity to strengthen interoperability with partner nation navies.”

For most of the sonar technicians on board, this was the first time they had ever worked with foreign submarines. In SIFOREX 2014, Peru engaged with three proficient diesel submarines.

The ships relied on standard tactical signals to communicate with each other, as well as maritime patrol reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters to locate and track subsurface contacts.

SIFOREX has been recurring since 2001. The next SIFOREX is planned for 2016.

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Press Release, October 08, 2014; Image: US Navy