USS Jason Dunham, Bulgaria and Romania Engage in PASSEX

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) participated in two bilateral underway engagements with ships from the Bulgarian and Romanian navies in the Black Sea, April 5, 2015.

The exercises are aimed at improving maritime capabilities and reassuring the NATO allies and partners of the commitment to the alliance and to their security.

Cmdr. Darren T. Dugan, USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) commanding officer, said:

Our exercises with Bulgarian and Romanian naval forces today were extremely successful examples of the interoperability between NATO allies when working toward a common mission.

Underway engagements such as these are often referred to as passing exercises (PASSEX), and consist of a series of at-sea scenarios designed to enhance maritime capabilities among participating nations. They typically include tactical maneuvering exercises, passenger transfers, bridge-to-bridge communication drills, and simulated threat defenses with aircraft.

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Image: US Navy