Article Posted on : - Jul 09, 2010

The file photo of Silent Forces Exercise (SIFOREX) between US and Peruian navies. Photo: US Navy.

CALLAO (BNS): The Silent Forces Exercise (SIFOREX) 2010, a bilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise has begun between the navies of US and Peruvian in Callao, Peru.

The exercise hosted by Peruvian submarine force has started on July 6 and will continue till July 11 in the waters off the coast of Peru.

According to a US Navy news release, SIFOREX 2010 will mainly focus on the ASW operations and it is the only exercise in which US units will participate for so long.

During the exercise, the Peruvian naval surface units and the frigates BAP Bolognesi (FM 57) and BAP Villavicencio (FM 52) will team up with Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40, USS Klakring (FFG 42), Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42 and Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 to practice ASW against three Peruvian Type 209 diesel submarines, BAP Arica (SS 32), BAP Pisagua (SS 33) and BAP Chipana (SS 34).

Currently, DESRON 40 is on a six-month deployment to South America and the Caribbean as part of Southern Seas 2010, a US Southern Command-directed operation that provides US and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multinational environment.

The Silent Force Exercise (SIFOREX) was first conducted in July, 2001 at the South Eastern Pacific Ocean, hosted by Peruvian Navy.