Three P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft assigned to the “Red Lancers” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 10 began their participation in exercise Breeze 2019 July 12th.
The annual exercise, led by the Bulgarian navy, is scheduled to include units from Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey, United States and Allied Maritime Command NATO, and will focus on improving operational and tactical interoperability, enhancing interagency cooperation, and evaluating Bulgarian navy units.
"We look forward to partnering with our allies in exercise Breeze to strengthen our relations, enhance our ability to conduct real world operations, and build global maritime partnerships," said Lt. Kevin Wunderly, Breeze detachment officer-in-charge, commander, Combined Task Force 67. "We are committed to the goals of promoting a peaceful Europe and the belief that our nations are stronger through cooperation."
Breeze has taken place annually since 1996 and provides an important opportunity for allies and partners to demonstrate interoperability and forge the bonds to strengthen our global network of navies.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.