Maritime search and rescue drill ‘Argonaut’ underway in Cyprus

The international maritime search and rescue and non-combatant evacuation exercise Argonaut is underway off Larnaca, Cyprus.

The Eastern Mediterranean Sea exercise kicked off on May 27 and will conclude on June 2.

Argonaut is designed to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies of participating nations.

Cyprus, Greece, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Hungary, and the U.S. are scheduled to participate in this exercise. Israel is sending representatives as observers only and will not participate in this exercise.

U.S. 6th Fleet units scheduled to participate in the exercise are the Arleigh Burke-class guidedmissile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) and one P-8A Poseidon from Maritime Patrol Squadron (VP) 16.

Argonaut is a regularly scheduled exercise and is not associated with, or a reaction to any real world events, the U.S. Navy said.