Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) Qatar-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 successfully conducted the first iteration of Joint Patrol-01, recently.
The joint patrol aimed to revolutionize maritime operations using autonomous seaborne vessels.
Qatar Emiri Naval Forces corvette QENS Al Khor (F103), Qatar Coast Guard Ares 150 Hercules-class offshore patrol vessel QC 807, and a Royal Bahraini Naval Force Al Riffa-class patrol boat, along with Royal Navy Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel HMS Middleton (M34) and U.S. Navy Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16) joined together to demonstrate interoperability and cooperation between national maritime forces.
The patrol was a key milestone for CMF, as it was the first CMF operation to incorporate a persistent unmanned surface vessel (USV) alongside multi-national ships, and it showcased the ability of USVs to function as long-range, over-the-horizon sensors in support of crewed vessels.
By extending operational reach, the USV enhanced maritime awareness by enabling mapping of behavioral patterns and trafficking routes in the Arabian Gulf, bolstering CMF efforts to deter illegal activities in the region.
Joint Patrol-01 also provided an opportunity for sailors from participating nations to exchange knowledge in the interest of regional maritime security while building capacity for multiple CMF partners and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Established in March 2004, CTF 152 is one of five task forces operated by CMF. It enhances regional maritime cooperation focusing on illicit non-state actors in the Arabian Gulf, especially between GCC nations.
CMF, headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet, is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world, with 47 nations committed to upholding the international rules-based order at sea. It promotes security, stability, and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.