The U.S. and the Royal Moroccan Navy (RMN) and Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) are conducting a bilateral maritime exercise during the first week of March, the U.S. embassy in Rabat said in a statement.
According to the same source, this maritime exercise 'Lightning Handsheke' witnesses the participation of The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), adding that the purpose of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and Moroccan Navies across multiple warfare areas, many of which include: surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, air and strike warfare, combined logistics support, maritime interdiction operations.
"On behalf of the Sailors assigned to the IKE CSG it's an honor to participate in this historic bi-lateral maritime exercise; hallmarking 200 years of an enduring partnership with Morocco," said Rear Adm. Scott Robertson, commander, Carrier Strike Group Two as was quoted in the statement "Exercises like Lighting Handshake enhance the foundation of our interoperability and continued support of our long-term commitment to security in the region".
"Lightning Handshake 2021 increases the ability of U.S. and Moroccan maritime forces to work together in order to address security concerns and increase stability in the region" the statement pointed out.
The U.S. navy participates in this maritime exercise, according to the statement, using various ships and Aircraft include the flagship USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69); and Destroyer Squadron 22 ships include Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mitscher (DDG 57), and USS Porter (DDG 78).
For Aircraft participating in Lightning Handshake include - Squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, embarked on Eisenhower include the "Fighting Swordsmen" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, "Gunslingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, "Wildcats" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, "Rampagers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83; "Dusty Dogs" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7; "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74; "Screwtops" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 123; "Zappers" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, and a detachment from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 "Rawhides."
The Moroccan part, as the statement pointed out, participates in the exercise using Royal Moroccan Navy Frigate Tarik Ben Ziyad (SIGMA Class Frigate), Royal Naval HQ Maritime Operations Center (MOC) Royal Air Force HQ Air Operations Center (AOC), one Panther Helicopter, and two of each fixed-wing combat F-16 and F-5 fighter aircraft.
"USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) participated in the 2018 exercise and included unit events which flexed interoperability between the U.S. and Royal Moroccan Navies in the following warfare areas; communication, link, Anti-Submarine Warfare, close air support, and Naval Surface Fire Support," the statement said.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, the statement clarified, is a multiplatform team of ships, aircraft, and more than 5,000 Sailors, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe.
