US Navy destroyer Porter and EODMU 8 taking part in REP (MUS) 2019

The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) and members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 participate in the first Recognized Environmental Picture Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems REP (MUS) exercise hosted by the Portuguese Navy in Lisbon, Portugal, from September 8 to 20, 2019.

“We’re committed to regional stability and security, which is strengthened when we work with our NATO allies in developing new maritime capabilities like the Towed Airborne Lift of Naval Systems,” Cmdr. Craig Trent, commanding officer of Porter, said.

REP (MUS) 2019 is a multinational unmanned underwater vehicle exercise jointly hosted by the Portuguese Navy, the Laboratório de Sistemas e Tecnologia Subaquática (LSTS) of the University of Porto and the NATO STO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation.

During the exercise, participants will share tactics, techniques, and procedures in order to further technological advances with our partner navies.

“Exercises like this allow us to work hand in hand with our regional partners and increase our interoperability,” Trent added.

Hosted this year by Portugal, participants in REP (MUS) 2019 include Belgium, Germany, Poland, Italy, Turkey, the UK, and the US along with participation from NATO. REP (MUS) 2019 highlights the joint and combined capability of US allied and partner forces to ensure that US and partner nations have the modern, competitive capabilities to ensure freedom of navigation and deter malign actors.

US 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance US national interests, and promote security and stability in Europe and Africa.