UNITAS (maneuvers)

Chilean, US and Peruvian ships during UNITAS 46-05 (2005).

UNITAS is a maneuver of several navies that is held annually and lasts around five months.

history

The first UNITAS was held in 1959, when ships of the United States Navy circumnavigated the South American continent and docked in several ports. In addition to the exercises with the local navy, receptions and the like took place on land and on the ships. In addition to these, maritime patrols such as the Lockheed P-3C Orion and the US Marines are also involved.

present

Today, numerous European navies also take part in the maneuver. For many South and Central American armed forces, the exercise is the only opportunity to compete with the technologically advanced navies of the USA and Europe. Since the year 2000 the exercise has been carried out in three separate phases, there are no several smaller exercises on each coast with only one or two local navies as before. After the Caribbean phase, exercises follow in the Pacific, followed by exercises with neighboring countries in the Atlantic. Marines from non-bordering countries can only take part in one phase; the German Navy was also already involved in the exercise.

Web links

• UNITAS on globalsecurity.org (Engl.)