USA: HSC Weapons School Pacific Hosts Inaugural Anti-Surface Warfare Exercise

An Australian MH-60R Seahawk fires a Hellfire Missile (File Photo)

By Lt. Rebekah Saxon, Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Pacific Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Pacific (HSCWSP) concluded the inaugural Phoenix Fire exercise, Oct. 21.

The training focused on littoral combat in a contested environment utilizing the Navy's Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE) on San Clemente Island, California.

The exercise grew out of HSC Wing Pacific's desire to increase the fidelity of training for its MH-60S Seahawk helicopter squadrons in anti-surface warfare (ASuW) with a focus on close air support (CAS). Cmdr. Frank Ingargiola, the commanding officer of HSCWSP, made the exact purpose of this exercise clear to his crew.

News Report: U.S. Increases Role in Aussie Pitch Black Air Combat Exercise

By: Mike Yeo

The U.S. has increased its role in an air combat exercise, featuring its largest contribution of airpower in more than a decade from the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps in a practical demonstration of Washington’s, “rebalance to the Pacific.”

Codenamed Pitch Black 2016, the biannual exercise in the first three weeks in August, saw 115 aircraft and 2,800 personnel from 10 countries participating, flying offensive and defensive counter-air missions using large force employment tactics to build interoperability in a coalition environment.

Other than the United States and host Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Canada, and France also took part with aircraft, while New Zealand, Germany and the Netherlands sent personnel to participate.

The American contingent included USAF Lockheed-Martin F-16CM fighters and Boeing B-52 bombers, along with a squadron of Marine Boeing F/A-18 Hornets and Lockheed-Martin KC-130J Hercules tankers.